Jacob Rees-Mogg SLAMS UK’s net migration figures - 'Simply too high’
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg tonight called for greater controls on legal migration and warned numbers are getting out of control
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Office for National Statistics show net migration soared to a record breaking 745,000 last year
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Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg tonight called for greater controls on legal migration and warned numbers are getting out of control.
It comes as revised figures from the Office for National Statistics show net migration soared to a record breaking 745,000 last year, 140,000 higher than previous estimates.
The latest figures released on Wednesday showed numbers continuing to climb dramatically from the previous 12-month figure of 607,000.
The Tory MP and GB News presenter said: “Legal migration needs to be controlled; the numbers are simply too high.
"This is under our control and could be dealt with much more easily than illegal migration as there are no human rights concerns or legal issues.
With the UK economy still struggling in the wake of Covid lockdowns and the cost of living crisis, Sir Jacob warned: “The economic effect is undesirable as GDP per capita is forecast to shrink this year.”
The concern about the revised figures - a new record - were also echoed by former Immigration Minister Kevin Foster who said: “This level of migration is not sustainable”.
Foster told GB News: “What is needed now is urgent action to update the salary thresholds, including for sponsoring under the family visa, and removing the 20 per cent discount for being on the shortage occupation list.
"We should also put in place work to have a proper labour market strategy which immigration policy supports and is part of, not provides an alternative to."
Reform UK, which plans on fielding candidates in 630 seats at the next general election, slammed the Government and claimed uncontrolled migration will be a huge issue for voters.
The party’s Defence and Security Spokesman Fredrick Chedham said: “The Government has run out of road.
"They have failed to control legal immigration to a sustainable level, and tried to wriggle past human rights legislation when major reform in the national interest is required.
He added: “Blair opened the doors to immigration and the Tories were too spineless to take the steps necessary to control the single biggest issue affecting the UK today. Voters deserve better.
“We have an economy addicted to low-skill, low-wage labour that is forcing our societal infrastructure into collapse.
"Neither the Conservatives nor Labour will change a thing.”
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