Brexit is a factor in ‘Brexodus’ from U.K.
12-month data show immigration has slowed
The new immigration total is still too high for Prime Minister Theresa May, who wants to keep the annual increase in net migration to less than 100,000 per year.
LONDON – The “Brexodus” has begun.
Britain’s looming exit from the European Union has triggered a record slowdown in new immigrants living in the United Kingdom, according to official data released Thursday.
The Office for National Statistics reported that 572,000 foreigners moved to the United Kingdom and 342,000 left in the 12 months through June. The net increase in the number of immigrants — 230,000 — was down from
336,000 the previous year.
The new immigration total is still too high for Prime Minister Theresa May, who wants to keep the annual increase in net migration to less than
100,000 per year.
“These changes suggest that Brexit is likely to be a factor in people’s deci- sion to move to or from the U.K.,” said Nicola White, head of government migration statistics.
“The decline follows historically high levels of immigration, and it is too early to say whether this represents a longterm trend,” White said.
The figures represent the first time that a full 12 months of data have been available since Britain voted 52% to 48% to leave the 28-member EU in a June 2016 referendum.
The terms of a formal separation are under negotiation, with the actual Brexit to occur in March 2019.