Illegal migration ‘150k a year’

A NEW report claims 150,000 migrants a year are living in Britain illegally.

It says the true scale of those here unlawfully is being hidden because the Home Office estimates have been held back.

The paper, written by former immigration chief David Wood and Alasdair Palmer, a speechwriter to Theresa May when she was Home Secretary, also warns of a possible ‘surge’ once legal migration from the EU is curbed following Brexit.

The figure for illegal migrants – mainly people overstaying their visas – adds half as much again to official net migration.

The most recent official figures show net migration – the difference between those leaving and arriving in the UK lawfully – stands at 273,000. Mrs May has pledged to cut it to the tens of thousands by 2022. But the report warns that unless there is a major change in approach, that figure will be impossible to meet.

The pair claim immigration to the UK is far higher than official statistics, with a ‘glaring gap’ between what ministers say and the reality.

The report, published by the think-tank Civitas, warns: ‘Until the reality is honestly recognised, there is no possibility that immigration into Britain will be diminished by any Government policy.’

Publicly the Home Office has insisted there are no accurate figures for illegal immigration.

The report warns the situation is ‘almost certainly going to get significantly worse’ when Britain leaves the EU.

The pair add: ‘Without effective enforcement of immigration laws and regulations, the result of Brexit won’t be that we “take back control” of our borders, as the Prime Minister has promised, it will be a surge in illegal immigration.’

Net migration figures are based on a survey of passengers. Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis said it was ‘harder than ever’ for those with no right to be here to remain in the UK.

He insisted the Government would use Brexit to ‘take control of immigration’.