Britain's net migration set to rise by 315,000 annually

The UK’s net population is set to rise by 315,000 over the next five years.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) bumped its net migration forecasts from 240,000 to 315,000 for each year up to 2028 – an increase of 70,000 people, and a 28 per cent increase since its last forecast in autumn.

The figure takes into account people leaving the country, though the predictions fall a great deal lower than last year’s 670,000.

Migration Watch UK chairman Alp Mehmet said the updated forecast would mean the UK’s population would see an increase of nine million people by 2046, meaning it’s set to rise at a higher rate than it has over the previous 22 years.

Mehmet said increased immigration “will mean massive added pressure on services and housing”.

But the OBR said government measures in December to clamp down on legal arrivals, including banning foreign care workers, would mean a long-term decrease in net migration.

It said: “Most of the [Home Office] policies will have been introduced by April 2024, so we expect significantly reduced immigration levels from that point.”