UK preparing to accept 300,000 migrants annually despite strict limits

11 June 2025 , 07:12

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Britain will still take nearly 300,000 migrants a year long-term, a government adviser has saidCredit: AP

Britain will continue accepting nearly 300,000 people a year despite major crackdowns on immigration, a government adviser has said.

Professor Brian Bell stated that while net migration is expected to drop from 430,000 to around 200,000 next year, it is likely to rise again in the long term to just under 300,000.

That’s the equivalent of adding a city the size of Nottingham to the UK population every single year. 

The chairman of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) blamed the drop on falling job vacancies and tough new rules from both the Tories and Labour. 

He said it could fall lower depending on the impact of Labour’s proposed reforms to tighten work visa rules. 

Sir Keir Starmer’s White Paper plans to restrict visas to graduate-level jobs, block the overseas recruitment of foreign care workers, and raise English language requirements. 

He said: “I think we’ll revert to about 300,000, although probably a little lower given the White Paper’s recent changes which, if enacted, will reduce net migration by perhaps about 80,000. 

“So somewhere just below 300,000 would seem like a plausible medium-term scenario.”

His committee also sounded the alarm over plans to raise the salary required to bring a foreign spouse to Britain from £29,000 to £38,700.

He warned the move will likely breach human rights laws protecting family life. 

Emma Davis

Deputy Editor