Net migration to Britain fell to 171,000 last year, according to new official figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figure, which represents the number of people coming to live in the UK long-term minus those emigrating, nearly halved from the previous year's total of 331,000.
Asylum Claims Edge Higher
The ONS also reported that the number of individuals who arrived in Britain to claim asylum during the year stood at 88,000, a slight increase compared with the prior year. This suggests that asylum seekers now account for 51 per cent of net migration, according to the data.
These figures provide a snapshot of the changing migration landscape in the UK, with overall inflows declining sharply while asylum-related migration continues to rise modestly.
This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as more details become available.
