Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has criticized the recent increase in net migration, calling it a "slap in the face" for British voters.
Missed Migrants and Revised Totals
The total number of migrants for last year has been revised by statisticians, who now say that they missed 139,000 migrants due to their "unexpected" behavior.
A Backlash from the Tory Right
Suella Braverman has led a significant backlash from the right wing of the Tory party, claiming that she had pushed for stricter immigration controls while in Cabinet, but was unsuccessful.
Record Numbers and Unsustainable Pressure
Braverman stated, "Today's record migration stats show we've let in an extra million people in just two years, a population equivalent to Birmingham. The pressure on housing, the NHS, schools, wages, and community cohesion is unsustainable. When do we say enough is enough? We were elected on a pledge to reduce net migration. Today's record numbers are a slap in the face to the British public who have voted to control and reduce migration."
Pressure on PM Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who sacked Braverman, has been warned by right-wing members of his party that reducing migration is a "do or die" issue, after his previous pledge to decrease it to 2019 levels.
Downing Street's Response and High Figures
Downing Street has acknowledged that the figures are "far too high" and is reportedly working on a response package, which may include a crackdown on workers bringing their dependents.
Slightly Lower Figures for the Year to June 2023
The Office for National Statistics reported a slightly lower net migration figure of 672,000 for the year ending in June 2023. During that period, a total of 1.18 million individuals came to the UK, with the majority entering legally, while 508,000 left the country.
Tragedy in the Channel
On Wednesday, two migrants died while attempting to cross the English Channel by boat from France.
Conservative MPs Demand Action
The New Conservatives faction of Tory MPs expressed their disappointment, stating, "Each of us made a promise to the electorate. We don't believe promises can be ignored." Ex-Cabinet Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg also expressed embarrassment at not achieving their intended goals.
