According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the net migration has dropped drastically in a year post the EU referendum, with EU citizens accounting to over ¾ of the decline. The figures reveal that net migration is at its lowest for three years, due to the fall in Europeans coming to Britain, as well as a rise in them leaving.
The figures also reveal that the applications from EU migrants for British citizenship has leaped by 80%, whereas application for EU citizens acquiring a permanent residence card in the UK has increased five times more.
The head of migration statistics at the ONS, Nicola White said, “Overall, more people are still coming to live in the UK than are leaving and therefore net migration is adding to the UK population. The first full year of data since the EU referendum vote in 2016 shows a decrease in the number of people coming to live in the UK and an increase in the number leaving. The decline follows historically high levels of immigration and it is too early to say whether this represents a long-term trend. These changes suggest that Brexit is likely to be a factor in people’s decision to move to or from the UK, but decisions to migrate are complex and other factors are also going to be influencing the figures.”
