Immigration hits record level ahead of referendum, says ONS
Immigration to Britain rose to a record level in the months before the referendum, according to the Office for National Statistics on Thursday.
In the year to June, immigration climbed to its highest estimated level, reaching 650,000 and emigration edged up to 315,000.
While 284,000 EU citizens had immigrated to Britain, which was “historically high”, compared with 265,000 last year, while 289,000 non-EU citizens emigrated.
Net migration was relatively flat at 335,000, when compared to the previous year, comprising 189,000 EU citizens and 196,000 from outside the bloc, while 49,000 Brits left. This was similar to the 326,000 forecast for the year ended March.
The figures showed that net migration from the EU and outside were relatively the same.
Nicola White, head of international migration statistics at the ONS, said: "Immigration levels are now among the highest estimates recorded - the inflow of EU citizens is also at historically high levels and similar to the inflow of non-EU citizens; there were also increases in the number of asylum seekers and refugees.”
Immigration of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens continued the upward trend seen over the last few years, while Romania was the most common country of previous residence in 2015.
She said that the main reason people are coming to Britain is for work, and there has been a significant increase in people looking for work from the EU.
“These long-term international migration figures run to the end of June, so it is too early to say what effect, if any, the EU referendum has had on long-term international migration. There does not however appear to have been any significant impact during the run-up to the vote."