ONS set to reveal latest UK net migration figures amid political pressure and societal concern
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is poised to publish fresh net migration figures on Thursday, shedding light on how many people moved to the UK compared with those who left during the 12 months to December 2024. The release comes at a politically sensitive moment, just days after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that Britain risks becoming an “island of strangers” unless immigration is reduced and integration improved.
The latest estimates will mark the ONS’s first official data for the full 2024 calendar year and are expected to reflect a continued fall in net migration from record highs. Provisional figures for the year to June 2024, published in November, showed net migration at 728,000 – a notable drop from the all-time high of 906,000 recorded in the previous 12 months.
This downward trend is likely to have continued in the second half of the year, following a series of visa restrictions introduced by the former Conservative government. These curbs, primarily targeting work and student visas, were aimed at tightening immigration in response to public concern and political pressure.
Prime Minister Starmer has committed to reducing net migration “significantly” before the next general election, though he has declined to set a specific numerical target. Speaking earlier this month, he said high levels of immigration had caused “incalculable” damage to British society and proposed a package of measures to curb the numbers arriving in the UK.
Among his proposals are reforms to the work and study visa systems, alongside a new requirement for higher English language proficiency across all migration routes. These changes, according to government estimates, could reduce annual immigration figures by up to 100,000.
However, Starmer’s remarks – particularly his warning about the UK becoming an “island of strangers” – sparked criticism from some quarters, including members of his own Labour Party. Several backbenchers expressed concern that his rhetoric echoed the controversial “rivers of blood” speech delivered by Enoch Powell in 1968, widely condemned for fuelling racial division.
Downing Street has since defended the Prime Minister’s language, with his official spokesperson rejecting “absolutely” any comparisons to Powell’s speech and reaffirming that Sir Keir stands by his choice of words.
The debate surrounding immigration continues to resonate with the public. A recent More In Common survey of over 13,000 adults in Britain revealed that nearly half felt disconnected from wider society, with 44% admitting they sometimes feel like a “stranger” in their own country.
While immigration and cultural change were cited as contributing factors, the poll also identified economic insecurity as a major driver of alienation. Many respondents pointed to financial instability, housing pressures, and a lack of opportunity as key reasons for feeling detached from their communities.
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Immigration has long been a contentious issue in British politics. For years, the number of people entering the country has far outstripped those leaving, leading to an overall rise in the UK’s population. While proponents argue that immigration supports the economy and fills skills shortages, critics have called for stricter controls, citing pressure on public services and community cohesion.
Labour now faces pressure from both ends of the political spectrum. Reform UK, which recently made gains in a by-election and several council seats, has surged in popularity with its hard-line stance, including a proposed freeze on immigration.
As the ONS prepares to unveil its latest figures, the political stakes are high. For the government, the data will offer an early litmus test of its new immigration strategy. For the public, it may fuel an ongoing national debate about identity, community, and what it means to belong in modern Britain.
