Net migration to the UK has dramatically decreased by nearly 50% in 2024, with official figures revealing a total of 431,000 migrants, down from 860,000 in the previous year. This significant decline marks the largest drop since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and offers a welcome respite for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a reduction in arrivals on work and study-related visas, alongside an increase in emigration over the past year. The previous Conservative government had implemented stricter visa regulations, including higher salary thresholds and limitations on family reunification.
Migration continues to be a contentious topic in UK politics. On May 12, Starmer introduced stringent policies aimed at “taking back control” of the nation’s borders, which include reducing the number of overseas care workers and extending the residency period required for migrants seeking settlement.
Starmer, who faces pressure from the anti-immigration Reform UK party—currently polling at 29%—has warned that Britain risks becoming “an island of strangers.” His stance has drawn criticism from within his own Labour Party.
Yvette Cooper, the Interior Minister, acknowledged the reduction in net migration as “important and welcome,” citing the return of nearly 30,000 unsuccessful asylum seekers since July. However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the government, claiming migration remains “too high.”
The latest data indicates a shift in public support, with Reform UK leading in polls, followed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who have overtaken the Conservatives.
As the government aims to further reduce net migration, the political landscape surrounding immigration remains increasingly complex and divisive.
