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Immigration reaches record high

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that immigration to the UK has risen to a record level with 650,000 migrants in the year to June. The figures mainly cover the period immediately before the EU referendum, and show a record number of EU citizens coming to live in Britain - with the figure standing at 284,000. Additionally, net migration remained at a near-record high at 335,000 - the second highest figure on record - just behind the 336,000 for the 12 months to June 2015. Net migration from the EU was the highest figure on record with the number standing at 189,000. Romania topped the list for the country with the most number of migrants to the UK, with the latest figures showing that 54,000 Romanian’s came to live in Britain. Nicola White, head of International Migration Statistics at the ONS, said: “Net migration remains around record levels, but it is stable compared with recent years. Immigration levels are now among the highest estimates recorded - the inflow of EU citizens is also at historically high levels and similar to the inflow of non-EU citizens; there were also increases in the number of asylum seekers and refugees. “Immigration of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens continues the upward trend seen over the last few years and in 2015 Romania was the most common country of previous residence. The main reason people are coming to the UK is for work, and there has been a significant increase in people looking for work particularly from the EU. “These long-term international migration figures run to the end of June, so it is too early to say what effect, if any, the EU Referendum has had on long-term international migration. There does not however appear to have been any significant impact during the run-up to the vote."

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