Arrivals ‘will hit 700k a year after Brexit’

IMMIGRATION will surge to a record high after Brexit unless Theresa May tightens up her plans for new controls, a leading think-tank warned yesterday.

Arrivals will soar to more than 700,000 a year under current Home Office proposals – 160,000 from the EU and 550,000 from elsewhere, Migration Watch UK said. The number previously peaked at 652,000 in the 12 months to June 2016.

After those leaving Britain have been taken into account, the Government’s proposals would mean ‘net migration’ – the number of immigrants minus the number of those emigrating – spiralling to 3 0,000 a year, the think-tank added.

This beats the previous peak of 336,000 in 2015, and compares with an average of 250,000 a year over the past decade.

Migration Watch chairman Lord Green of Deddington said: ‘The members of the public who want to see immigration reduced will be furious if the outcome of Brexit is to increase immigration rather than reduce it. The Government needs to re-think this and soon.’

In its report, the think-tank says the leap in immigration will come mainly because of much lower barriers for workers with mid-level skills.

It added: ‘Far from reducing immigration to sustainable levels, these proposals are likely to see net migration rise.

‘The inflow will include a far greater proportion of non-EU migrants than is currently the case. In effect, EU migrants would be replaced, and more, by migrants from the rest of the world.’ However the forecast was criticised by officials last night. A Home Office spokesman said: ‘These remarks are inaccurate and untrue. Skilled workers will be required to meet a minimum salary threshold, which the migration advisory committee recommend should be set at £30,000.

‘It ensures we can attract the talented people we need while controlling immigration. We are ending free movement and through the future system we are committed to bringing net migration down to sustainable levels.’