By Ben Kerrigan-
Net migration to the UK have reached close to record levels, putting added pressure on Theresa Mays government to speed up the Brexit process.
Net migration refers to the number of people arriving in the country
minus the number of people leaving the country – and the official figure from the EU stands at a staggering 370,000 nearly half of the overall net migration figures, according to the National Statistics.
This figure shows an increase of 1,000 from last year’s figure of 336,000 in the 12 months leading up to March last year. However, net migration from the EU came to a staggering 180,000.
This rise is bothersome for many, though more important should be what these huge numbers contribute to society weighed up against any disadvantages they posed.
Immigrants in general contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country, though there have always been complaints that too many immigrants compromise the availability of jobs to British born citizens, and put extra pressure on the national health system.
DISINTERESTED
However, Euro skeptics are disinterested in any such proportionate assessment, and instead prefer a clear restrictive system that consistently limits immigration numbers.
Consistent with that view is the notion that a work force made up of predominant British workers should constitute the drive for greater levels of labour productivity and economic growth.
Shortsighted as that maybe, this is a summary of how things are perceived by the majority of electorate.
FAILED
Under David Cameron’s leadership as prime minister, he promised to reduce net migration to “tens of thousands”, though failed woefully on delivery during this period, when Theresa May was in charge of immigration, as home Secretary.
Although, May has repeated the pledge to bring net migration numbers down to the “tens of thousands” mark, but many doubt she will be able actually achieve her promise before she invokes the Article 50 requirement required to formally implement the Brexit result of the referendum.
With the debate heating up for net migration to be brought down to desirable levels, is also the question of whether the British government are prepared for other countries to restrict the number of British people entering their countries.
The answer may be ‘yes’, but is it?
In a statement released by Andrew Green, chairman of the migration policy, read :
“The referendum result demonstrated public concern about the scale of immigration; it simply cannot be allowed to continue”, he said.
“The Brexit negotiations must achieve a significant reduction of EU migration must achieve a significant reduction of EU migration of EU migration, and very firm action is needed against overstaying students from outside the EU”.
SKEPTICAL
However, according to research by ‘British Future- a London based think tank, 44 percent of the British public are skeptical that Britain will meet its net migration target in th e next five years, despite the Brexit vote.
A relevant question to be asked is whether domestically skilled workers can meet or outstrip the number of skilled migration that contribute to the economic prosperity of the country.
This is a hypothetical question, answerable only by the assessment of objective experts in the field. The debate surrounding the issue of net migration will not go anytime soon.