Net migration to UK reaches 318,000

[Chippiewill]

Net migration to the UK reached 318,000 last year - the highest total for a decade, new figures show.

The Office for National Statistics said this was a "statistically significant" rise of more than 109,000 from 2013.

There were increases in both EU and non-EU migration, with the total figure close to 2005's all-time high.

It comes as the Conservatives unveil new plans to seize the wages of illegal workers as proceeds of crime in an attempt to reduce the numbers.

Prime Minister David Cameron will say it has become "too easy" for migrants not entitled to be in the country to exploit loopholes.

At the moment, firms can be fined up to £20,000 for employing illegal workers.

However, the scale of the challenge facing ministers in reducing levels of legal immigration has been highlighted again by the new official figures on net migration.

http://www.bbc.co.uk//news/uk-politics-32816454

Yay, the government are clamping down on illegal immigration in the face of rampant legal immigration.

The Conservatives pledged before the 2010 election to reduce numbers to less than 100,000, a target they acknowledge they have failed to meet.

A target that is impossible to meet inside the EU.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I just knew something was up the other day when I saw Tory newspapers proclaiming that David Cameron had apparently sterly told all government departments to help bring down net migration. A lot of tough talk I thought, what has brought this on? And here we've found out. another failure and another pledge broken.

[Chippiewill]

David Cameron won't 'cave in' on migration target despite new figures

David Cameron says he will not give up on his immigration target despite net migration to the UK reaching its highest level for a decade.

Net migration rose by 50% to 318,000 last year - with sharp increases from inside and outside the EU.

A total of 641,000 people moved to the UK in 2014, the Office for National Statistics said.

But the PM said he would not "cave in" and abandon his target of reducing net migration below 100,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32816454

Is he delusional or does he just think the general public are actually dumb enough to believe he can cut down immigration to 100,000 whilst in the EU.

[FlyingJesus]

Why do we even need to stop it if we're getting £20k for each illegal that gets found *+*+*+*

[Chippiewill]

Why do we even need to stop it if we're getting £20k for each illegal that gets found *+*+*+*

Well illegal immigration is just a small part of the big picture. If we're interested in making money off illegals then we should just shut our borders but make it really easy to evade them so we have lots of illegals.

[Kardan]

Glad I'm not the only one wondering why Cameron was talking about illegal immigration today when it's legal immigration that's the big issue. I wonder if net migration will ever decrease with this current government, I've got a feeling not.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Glad I'm not the only one wondering why Cameron was talking about illegal immigration today when it's legal immigration that's the big issue. I wonder if net migration will ever decrease with this current government, I've got a feeling not.

No government has the power to limit immigration in any meaningful way until we are independent from EU.

[Kardan]

No government has the power to limit immigration in any meaningful way until we are independent from EU.

I reckon they could if they ruin the country, then nobody would want to come here But basically, yeah you're right.

[FlyingJesus]

Why are there so many nets coming into the country anyway

[GommeInc]

Getting it to below 100,000 is impossible and disgusting. We rely on it.

Why are there so many nets coming into the country anyway

Yeah! What's the catch?