Net migration to the UK has dropped significantly to 431,000 in 2024, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This marks a dramatic fall from 860,000 the previous year, bringing a measure of political relief to Prime Minister Keir Starmer as immigration remains a key issue ahead of the next general election.
The figure, the lowest since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflects the impact of tightened immigration policies first introduced by the former Conservative government and now continued by Labour. These measures have significantly reduced the number of work and student visas issued to non-EU nationals, while emigration from the UK has also increased.
Biggest Yearly Drop in Migration Since 2020
The ONS described the fall as the largest numerical drop in net migration for any 12-month period, with immigration figures dipping below 1 million for the first time since March 2022. A total of 948,000 people arrived in the UK in 2024, while 517,000 emigrated — an 11% increase from the previous year. Many of those leaving were international students who had arrived before the lifting of pandemic-era travel restrictions.
New Labour Policies Aim to Tighten Borders Further
Labour’s hardening stance on immigration follows pressure from Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which has focused its campaign on migration issues. The government’s continuation of Conservative-era reforms includes a ban on care workers and foreign students bringing dependants, and sharp increases in income thresholds for work and family visas.
The minimum salary for a skilled worker visa was raised to £38,700, while the minimum income required for a UK resident to bring a family member was raised to £29,000. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, highlighted these as part of Labour’s efforts to curb net migration and tackle illegal entry.
Migration Debate Dominates UK Political Scene
Labour’s tougher immigration rhetoric, including Keir Starmer’s controversial comments about Britain becoming an “island of strangers,” has sparked backlash, with some likening his language to Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 speech. Nevertheless, Labour has pledged sweeping reforms, including new counter-terrorism-style powers to combat people-smuggling networks and further reduce illegal migration.
Cooper stressed that the immigration white paper outlines further plans to reduce numbers, enhance returns of failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals, and reduce the use of hotels to house migrants.
