More than 700,000 migrants arrived in the UK last year, official figures set to reveal as Tories fear backlash
MORE than 700,000 migrants arrived in the UK last year, official figures are expected to reveal.
The numbers for 2022 will trigger huge alarm among Tory MPs worried about voter backlash.
It will also hike pressure on the Government to get Brits on out-of-work benefits back into the workplace.
The rise — which some believe could hit 800,000 — far exceeds the official 504,000 figure for June 2021 to June 2022, meaning the influx for the second half of the year was vast.
The Office for National Statistics is expected to confirm the 2022 total on May 25.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “It looks like it will be a worrying set of figures. It’s going to be a huge problem for the Conservative party.
“We’ve pledged repeatedly to reduce net migration and haven’t. A city the size of Leeds coming here in a year might boost our economy but will push down wages, British productivity and make our housing crisis even worse.”
Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch UK, said net migration for last year will “massively” exceed 500,000.
He said: “The loose points-based system that followed Brexit has sucked in more and more people, as we said it would.”
It came as Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said the basic income tax rate could fall 2p to 18p if the 650,000 Brits who quit jobs in the pandemic returned.
Overall, some 5.2 million are on out-of-work benefits, opening the door for foreign staff to come in.
The Home Office said: “We remain committed to reducing net migration over time, while ensuring we have the skills our economy and public services need.”