UK net migration reaches record high despite government promises to reduce it
Net migration to the UK has reached a record high of over 600,000, despite government promises to reduce it to below 245,000. The rise has been fuelled by people entering the UK to study, work or escape conflict or oppression. The government has announced that international students will no longer be able to bring family members with them except under specific circumstances, and that all foreign students except those doing postgraduate research will be barred from bringing family members to the UK from January next year. The government hopes these measures will cut net migration figures by up to 150,000.