Increase in net immigration is bad news for David Cameron

Official ONS statistics published in February 2015 showed a significant increase in net immigration to the UK in the year up to September 2014. Open Europe’s Stephen Booth looks at what the increase in migrant numbers meant for the politics of immigration in the United Kingdom and EU membership ahead of the General Election in May 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: United Kingdom general election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/united-kingdom-general-election-2015/

UK: ONS: Publications: Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, February 2015 http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/february-2015/stb-msqr-feb-2015.html

ESO: Background information: Prime Minister's speech on proposals to restrict benefits to EU migrants, 27 November 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/david-cameron-prime-ministers-speech-on-immigration-28-november-2014/

BBC News, 26.02.15: Net migration up to 298,000 as Conservative target missed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31638174

The Guardian, 26.02.15: Net migration to UK higher than when coalition took office http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/26/net-migration-to-uk-higher-than-when-coalition-took-office

The Conversation, 26.02.15: Target missed as immigration spikes, but we’re all losing out in this numbers game https://theconversation.com/target-missed-as-immigration-spikes-but-were-all-losing-out-in-this-numbers-game-38116

Conservative Home, 26.02.15: Lord Green: Yes, the immigration figures are disappointing. But we must stick with a net reduction target. http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/02/lord-green-yes-the-immigration-figures-are-disappointing-but-we-must-stick-with-a-net-reduction-target.html

Conservative Home, 28.12.14: Daniel Kawczynski MP: It’s time to stand up for the free movement of peoples within Europe http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2014/12/daniel-kawczynski-mp-its-time-to-stand-up-for-the-free-movement-of-peoples-within-europe.html

UKIP: News, 26.02.15: David Cameron has permitted an extra 1.1 Million people to settle in the UK since 2010 http://www.ukip.org/david_cameron_has_permitted_an_extra_1_1_million_people_to_settle_in_the_uk_since_2010

EurActiv, 27.02.15: Immigration rises as Britons fear pressure on jobs, NHS http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/immigration-rises-britons-fear-pressure-jobs-nhs-312462

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