Despite natural population growth being negative, the United Kingdom saw a record annual increase in its population due to the mass migration policies imposed upon the nation from Westminster.
The combined population of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland surged from around 67.6 million in mid-2022 to 68.3 million in mid-2023, as 662,400 more people resided in the UK, or an increase of one per cent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
The 662,400 increase in the population is the largest numerical yearly jump since records began in 1971. The ONS noted that this resulted mostly from mass migration policies of the previous Tory government, with net migration for the period currently estimated at around 677,300.
“Net international migration was the main contributor to population increase for all four countries of the UK in the year to mid-2023,” the ONS said.
Latest migration figures show 1.16 million UK visas were granted for work, study or family reasons in the year ending June 2024.
Just over 75,000 people were granted permission to stay via schemes for refugees and for people from places such as Ukraine and the former British colony of Hong Kong.
During the same period, just