What do the immigration figures for the UK really show?

<p>Official figures indicate net migration is falling, yet concern among Britons is close to the highest it has been since polling began in 1974</p><p>Rolling news coverage of protests outside asylum hotels, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/27/charities-warn-rise-rough-sleeping-refugees-winter-uk">series</a> of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/30/home-office-bans-asylum-seekers-from-buying-luxury-goods-and-services">government</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/03/uk-family-reunion-scheme-applications-asylum-seekers-refugees">announcements</a> on asylum seekers, and Reform’s party conference meant that immigration was once again the political topic of the summer.</p><p>In August almost half of Britons (48%) listed immigration as one of the top issues facing the UK. This year has recorded the highest concerns over immigration – outside of one other period during the 2015 Europe migrant crisis – since polling company Ipsos started asking the question in 1974.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/14/what-do-the-immigration-figures-for-the-uk-really-show">Continue reading...</a>