‘Brexodus’ claims as number of EU arrivals falls again

NET MIGRATION to the UK from outside the European Union has hit its highest level in 14 years – but the figure from within the EU continues to show a post-Brexit vote fall.

Nearly a quarter of a million more non-EU nationals arrived to live in the UK than left in the year to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The number is the highest since 2004 after a “statistically significant” year-on-year increase.

In contrast, EU net migration is tracking in the opposite direction amid claims of a “Brexodus”.

An estimated 74,000 more EU nationals came to the UK than left, the lowest figure since 2012.

The inflow from the EU, 219,000, was the lowest since 2014. Emigration of EU migrants from the UK increased by 18 per cent year-on-year to 145,000.

Overall, net long-term international migration – the difference between the numbers arriving and leaving for at least 12 months – was 273,000.

This is down from record levels of around a third of a million two years ago, but still almost three times the Government’s target of less than 100,000.

Separately, an MP has warned that the number of “ridiculous” visa rejections are increasing, as the Government prepares to reveal its future immigration plans.

SNP MP Patrick Grady, who represents Glasgow North, said today that the Conservatives were running a “humiliating system” with unreasonable rejections being frequently overturned after appeals by politicians and journalists.