Migration Part 1

Migration attracts a probably undeserved amount of attention but it may be helpful to be familiar with the issues and the Green Party position.

Here is GP policy on Migration and on Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Today, 21/05/2015, Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, has responded to the government’s new plans to tackle illegal immigration.

"These plans are both morally reprehensible and politically inept.

"This government has spectacularly missed its migration targets not because of the minority of migrants who stay beyond their visas, but because those targets are arbitrary and illogical; this new legislation is a transparent attempt to shift the focus away from this failure. A promised ‘crackdown’ on illegal migrants risks forcing them into destitution but does nothing to address the real economic issues facing Britain.

"The pressures we have seen in recent years on schools, hospitals and public services are not the result of immigration but of the failed politics of austerity, and the government’s consistent emphasis on immigration is an act of misdirection. Taking hard-earned money from those who have precious little in the first place, while doing nothing to address the UK’s rising inequality, exposes the warped priorities of this Government.”

Numbers from the Office of National Statisics

Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2015

Main points

• Net long-term migration to the UK (immigration less emigration) was estimated to be 318,000 in the calendar year 2014. This was just below the previous peak (320,000 in the year ending (YE) June 2005) and a statistically significant increase from 209,000 in 2013.
• 641,000 people immigrated to the UK in 2014, a statistically significant increase from 526,000 in 2013. There were statistically significant increases for immigration of EU (non-British) citizens (up 67,000 to 268,000) and non-EU citizens (up 42,000 to 290,000). Immigration of British citizens increased by 7,000 to 83,000, but this was not statistically significant.
• An estimated 323,000 people emigrated from the UK in 2014. Overall emigration levels have been relatively stable since 2010.
• 284,000 people immigrated for work in 2014, a statistically significant increase of 70,000 compared with 2013, continuing the rise since the middle of 2012. There were statistically significant increases compared with the previous year for both EU (non-British) non-EU citizens, whereas the increase for British citizens was not statistically significant.
• Latest employment statistics show estimated employment of EU nationals (excluding British) living in the UK was 283,000 higher in January to March 2015 compared with a year earlier and non-EU nationals in employment increased by 11,000. Over the same period, British nationals in employment also increased (by 279,000).
• In 2014, work-related visas granted (main applicants) rose 11,007 (or 10%) to 119,883, including a 6,842 (15%) increase for skilled work.
• National Insurance number (NINo) registrations to adult overseas nationals increased by 221,000 (37%) to 824,000 in the YE March 2015, when compared with the previous year.
• Immigration for study increased from 177,000 to 193,000 in 2014, but this change was not statistically significant. Over the same period visa applications to study at a UK university (main applicants) rose by 0.3% to 168,562.
• The number of immigrants arriving to accompany or join others showed a statistically significant increase, from 71,000 to 91,000 in 2014.
• 46,000 Romanian and Bulgarian (EU2) citizens immigrated to the UK in 2014, a statistically significant increase from 23,000 in the previous 12 months. Of these, 35,000 were coming for work, a statistically significant increase of 19,000 compared with 2013. The latest estimates reflect the first full year since EU2 working restrictions ended on 1 January 2014.
• There were 25,020 asylum applications (main applicants) in the YE March 2015, an increase of 5% compared with the previous 12 months (23,803). The number of applications remains low relative to the peak number of applications in 2002 (84,132). The largest number of applications for asylum came from nationals of Eritrea (3,552), followed by Pakistan (2,421) and Syria (2,222).

Get all the tables for this publication in the data section of this publication .

Download the full report.

Keith Taylor MEP speaking at Green Party Conference in 2013:

“We stand side by side with migrants facing demonisation by the government and persecution by the press. That is our position Conference, and we will not shrink from making it known.”