Migration 'drives 90% of population rise': Rise in numbers in recent years was driven by immigrants and UK-born offspring, analysis suggests

  • Immigrants added around seven million to the British population in 20 years 
  • The overall number who were born abroad has risen to around nine million 
  • Audit warns it is like to produce economic, social and political difficulties

By Steve Doughty Social Affairs Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Some 90 per cent of population growth in recent years has been driven by immigrants and their UK-born offspring, analysis suggests.

Over the past 20 years they have added around seven million to the British population, the report from the Migration Watch UK think-tank said.

The overall number who were born abroad – and who are therefore recognised by statisticians as immigrants – has risen to around nine million, it found. 

The audit of migration since 2001 warned that immigration over the last two decades – with numbers of arrivals running at around 300,000 a year with little public debate – are likely to produce economic, social and political difficulties in coming years.

The report said the proportion of the country who are not white British has nearly doubled, and those from ethnic minorities now make up 21 per cent of the population of 67million

The report said the proportion of the country who are not white British has nearly doubled, and those from ethnic minorities now make up 21 per cent of the population of 67million

Think-tank chief Alp Mehmet said: ‘We can no longer duck the longer-term consequences of very high levels of immigration which have taken place without the public’s consent. 

'The British people will be deeply concerned when they realise the sheer scale of the changes and their impact on prospects for achieving a harmonious and integrated society.’

The report said the proportion of the country who are not white British has nearly doubled, and those from ethnic minorities now make up 21 per cent of the population of 67million.

The report noted: ‘Just over a third of births involve at least one foreign born parent and in some parts of London nearly 80 per cent of births are to foreign-born mothers.’

It added: ‘Immigrants and their subsequent families have been given the right to be here by the policies of successive governments.

‘They are now an accepted part of our economy and culture.

‘Our concern is the scale and pace of change combined with the failure to achieve the level of integration that is essential to a harmonious society.’

The audit of migration since 2001 warned that immigration over the last two decades – with numbers of arrivals running at around 300,000 a year with little public debate – are likely to produce economic, social and political difficulties in coming years

The audit of migration since 2001 warned that immigration over the last two decades – with numbers of arrivals running at around 300,000 a year with little public debate – are likely to produce economic, social and political difficulties in coming years

The report went on: ‘We cannot, of course, be sure that immigration will resume at its previous levels once the Covid crisis has subsided but the Government’s major post-Brexit loosening of the global visa system makes this very likely.

‘It has sharply reduced both the salary and qualification requirements for a work visa, exposing some seven million UK jobs to new or increased international competition.’

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