4 in 10 babies born to foreign mothers as immigration soars Nearly half of all migrants still arriving from the EU
FOUR in ten children born in Birmingham last year had mothers who were born outside the United Kingdom, Government figures show – the highest proportion in the West Midlands.
The revelation came as separate figures revealed nationwide immigration is at its highest level ever. Over a 12 month period, 650,000 immigrants came to the UK – the highest number ever recorded.
Another 315,000 people the UK in the same period.
Migrants coming in to the UK included 284,000 EU citizens.
Work remains the most common reason for long-term immigration, with 311,000 people coming for this reason. Of these, 182,000 had a definite job to go to and 130,000 arrived looking for work.
Romania was the country that sent the highest number of migrants to the UK, followed by Poland, Italy, Spain and then Bulgaria.
The figures cover months up to June 2016.
While migration levels are the highest ever recorded, the rise is a small one compared to the year previously.
And the net migration figure, the difference between the numbers coming in and the numbers leaving, was 335,000, roughly the the left 12 same as previous figures. It comes after Dudley MP Ian Austin told Labour colleagues to stop hiding from immigration or face obliteration at the next general election.
Mr Austin (lab Dudley North) issued his warning in response to Shadow Health Secretary Diane Abbott, who argued Labour must not try to outdo UKIP and the Tories on immigration.
Writing for the Labour List website Mr Austin said: “We’ve known for years that immigration is one of the issues people are most concerned about. You can’t ignore people’s concerns or, worse still, tell them they what they should or shouldn’t be worried about.”
Conservatives had promised to get net migration below 100,000, but have not come close to succeeding.
At the party’s annual conference in Birmingham this year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said they were still committed to getting net migration into “tens of thousands”.
The latest figures come as the UK discusses its relationship with the EU after Brexit, including whether to continue allowing freedom of movement into the country.
Studies have repeatedly shown that immigration benefits the economy.
Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said: “The British people have sent a very clear mes- sage that they want more control of immigration and we are committed to getting net migration down to sustainable levels in the tens of thousands.
“There is no consent for uncontrolled immigration, which puts pressure on schools, hospitals and public services.
“That is why reducing the number of migrants coming to the UK will be a key priority of our negotiations to leave the EU.
“Further to this, we continue to reform non-EU immigration routes to ensure we attract the best and brightest, who benefit and contribute to this country.
“But there is more to do as we build an immigration system that delivers the control we need.”
Nicola White, Head of International Migration Statistics, Office for National Statistics, said: “Net migration remains around record levels, but it is stable compared with recent years.
“Immigration levels are now among the highest estimates recorded - the inflow of EU citizens is also at historically high levels and similar to the inflow of non-EU citizens; there were also increases in the number of asylum seekers and refugees.
“Immigration of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens continues the upward trend seen over the last few years and in 2015 Romania was the most common country of previous residence. The main reason people are coming to the UK is for work, and there has been a significant increase in people looking for work particularly from the EU.”
“These long-term international migration figures run to the end of June, so it is too early to say what effect, if any, the EU Referendum has had on longterm international migration.
“There does not however appear to have been any significant impact during the run-up to the vote.”
You can’t ignore people’s concerns or, worse still, tell them they what they should or shouldn’t be worried about. Dudley MP Ian Austin