Net long-term migration to UK at lowest level in more than two years

NET long-term migration to the UK has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years after a jump in numbers of eastern Europeans leaving the country, figures have revealed.

The measure – the difference between the numbers of people arriving and leaving the country – was estimated to be 273,000 in the year to the end of September.

This was a fall of 49,000 on the previous 12 months, the lowest level since the year to June 2014, and the first time net migration has dipped below 300,000 in two years.

It was also revealed that, for the first time, both immigration and net migration from the EU were higher than that for the rest of the world.

The figures are the first to include several weeks after the EU referendum in June and represent a boon for the Government, which has repeatedly faced criticism over its immigration target.

However, the net figure remains well above ministers’ aim of fewer than 100,000.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a “statistically significant” rise in emigration of citizens from so-called EU8 nations – Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The outflow of EU8 nationals was up 12,000 year-on-year to 39,000 – the highest for five years.

Immigration from the countries was 58,000, the lowest since they joined the European Union in 2004.

This was offset by a “statistically significant” increase in immigration of Bulgarians and Romanians, which reached 74,000 – the highest on record. Overall net migration from the EU fell to 165,000 – the lowest for two years – but was higher than for non-EU (164,000).

Immigration was 268,000 from the EU and 257,000 from the rest of the world.

It is the first time the EU figures have been higher than non-EU since records started.

Nicola White, head of international migration statistics at the ONS, said: “Although we have seen a fall in net migration of EU8 citizens, there have been continued increases in immigration from Romania and Bulgaria, so it is too early to say what effect the referendum result has had on long-term international migration.”

Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill described the fall in net migration as “encouraging”. ENTHUSIAST Tom Mucklow’s Barnum and Bailey Circus train locomotive is one of the leading attractions at the biggest model railway show in Scotland, which gets under way in Glasgow today.

Mr Mucklow, from Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, is among afficionados of the hobby showing off their scale model locomotives, carriages and spectacular sets at Model Rail Scotland.

The three-day event at the Scottish Event Campus Centre, formerly the SECC, will feature layouts of places from years gone by, including Balornock Goods 1970, Burntisland 1883 and Glendevon 1950-60. Organiser Model Rail Scotland also has advice for those interested in taking up the hobby.

Admission at the door is £12 and £6 for children over the age of five. Under fives go free and family tickets cost £27.

It is open until 6pm today and Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. Picture: Mark Gibson