New study reveals a MILLION more EU migrants came to the UK over the last decade than first thought, as it suggests governments made policy decisions based on inaccurate data
- It suggest governments have made policy decisions based on inaccurate data
- There were 54,000 fewer non-EU migrants every year than estimates since 2012
- Net immigration was 15 per cent higher each year than 2012 – 43,000 people
Up to 100,000 more EU migrants came to the UK every year than previously thought, an Oxford study suggests.
The latest figures suggest successive governments have made policy decisions based on inaccurate data.
But there were 54,000 fewer non-EU migrants every year than official estimates since 2012, according to the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.
In total, net immigration was 15 per cent higher each year than 2012, equating to around 43,000 more people.
It brings David Cameron’s previous target to reduce to reduce net migration to ‘tens of thousands’ in a new light.
The latest figures suggest successive governments have made policy decisions based on inaccurate data (file photo)
As this focused on non-EU migration, it turns out the policy may have been unnecessary – as the numbers were lower than the government thought.
But EU immigration, which ministers claimed was uncontrollable, was much higher at the same time.
In 2012 the government’s data said EU migration made up less than a third of all migration, when it actually accounted for more than two thirds.
Official government statistics on immigration continue to use the International Passenger Survey, which asks around 250,000 arrivals at airports each year.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has sought to improve this, using tax and benefits records instead.
The observatory found the discrepancy by replacing international passenger figures with the new ONS data.
It brings David Cameron’s previous target to reduce to reduce net migration to ‘tens of thousands’ in a new light
It shows net EU migration was around 216,000 during the nine years ending March 2020. This is a 76per cent rise, or around 93,000 people.
Madeleine Sumption, director of the observatory, said: ‘This report should really boost our confidence that UK migration statistics are getting more accurate and more useful for informing the public debate.
‘After all, data like these can have a real impact on how people think about policy.
‘After 2010 tight restrictions on non-EU migrants were significantly based on the premise that most net migration was from outside of the EU. Today’s figures suggest that the real picture was quite different.’