STORY
Long-term net migration to the UK nearly halved in 2025, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. Reuters reported that net migration fell to 171,000 in the 12 months to December, down from 331,000 a year earlier and well below the record peak of 944,000 in 2023.
The fall follows a series of restrictions introduced by successive Governments, including tighter rules on student dependants, higher salary thresholds for skilled worker visas and limits on overseas recruitment into the care sector. The Labour Government has also set out further reforms, including changes to settlement rules and measures aimed at increasing removals.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (in photo) welcomed the fall but said there was more work to do to restore order and control to the immigration system. Business groups and immigration specialists have warned that sharp reductions in migration could add to labour shortages in sectors including care and hospitality.