UK Immigration and Population Growth

If change continues at the current rate of growth, UK’s population will grow by 10 million in just 25 years. Some recent figures from The Office for National Statistics (ONS) mentions that the population will rise from the current level of 61m to 71.6m by 2033. Two third of the population rise, out of the total is likely to be because of growth in immigration rate in UK. The projected increase in UK is defined on the basis of fastest population growth over a century. The claims of expected population growth is greatly challenged by some as suspecting the UK immigration trend as witnessed in the country over the last few years may not continue. Statisticians said at least 70 per cent of the population rise over the next 20 years will be attributable directly to immigration. The government receives statistics in advance so that they plan strategies for necessary spending therefore the projections of population growth with immigrants of National population size are drawn every two years.


As well as the continued increase in UK immigration the projections claim: - The number of over 65’s will rise by 32% by 2033 to 15.6m. In 25 years time there will be a ratio of 2.8 persons of working age to every person of pension-claiming age - this is a fall from the current 3.2 people. The statistics provided by ONS states that a total of 180,000 new immigrants will immigrate to the UK every year and the trend would continue for next 25 years which will have a direct impact on the local population and added growth as the immigrant population could also double following the birth of children in their families.

Pointing out the issue, the UK immigration minister Phil Woolas mentioned that the projected number was 10,000 lower a year than previously projected by the ONS showing the new points-based system to UK immigration was working. He said, “Today's projections show that population growth is starting to slow down, the impacts of the radical reforms we have made to the immigration system over the last two years are working”.

Conservative Party ‘Promises’ to Increase UK Skilled Immigration in 2010

What would look like a famous party ‘stunt’ is even more intriguing than that. To get maximum number of votes in upcoming UK elections (2010), the Conservative Party mentioned in its election plans that if they are the winning party in 2010 elections, they would be increasing the intake of skilled UK migration to attract many high potential immigrants to live and work in the UK. Speaking on the same Mr. Damian Green, the shadow minister stated, "We want to attract more than our fair share of the brightest and the best” at the party’s annual conference in Manchester about UK Immigration. In other words, the conservatives would launch a drive to get more highly qualified migrants to come to the UK, as quoted by the shadow minister Damian Green.

Mr. Green further explained that the party also wants to achieve a similar system for UK immigration in comparison to the Australian immigration system. In Australia, there is a pre-provided list of the most demanded skilled occupations of which the country is in dire needs and also the country allows immigrants to migrate to Australia based on those professions. Apart from that Australia also has appropriate measures to attract the most highly skilled professional from other countries. The same strategy would be introduced to the UK Visa systems by the Conservative party.

The minister further argued that in order to maintain its position as a global trading nation, UK would need to attract more skilled and qualified professionals and entrepreneurs to work in the country as compared to their rival economies like Japan or USA. He stated that the UK was “really lucky as a country” that the influx of immigrants moving to this country with UK visas from Eastern Europe over the past few years have been “hard working and respectable." However, he also said, “it was important that British people feel that their community services are not being threatened by increasing UK immigration and that newcomers can settle well into their new communities”. He said Britain was a global trading nation and it was vital for future prosperity to attract more entrepreneurs and highly qualified graduates to the UK.
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written by Varsha Negi
www.angadinfo.com