Brexit triggers massive drop in migration to 230,000

New figures released today have shown that net migration fell dramatically in the year after the EU referendum.

Between June 2016 and June 2017, net migration tumbled to 230,000 which represents a drop of nearly a third.

It is the first full year figures released since the referendum to determine whether the UK should remain inside the EU.

The figures which were released by the Office for National Statistics is still way short of the "tens of thousands" figure that the Conservatives have repeatedly pledged to reach.

In the 12-month period, the figures showed that 572,000 people arrived in the UK, and 342,000 emigrated in the one year time period.

The ONS revealed that a drop in net migration of 106,000 compared to 2015-2016 was the largest such decrease ever recorded.

The latest data also found that the result of the EU referendum which saw 52% of people vote to leave the EU did have an impact on the flow of people in and out of the UK.

The number of people coming to look for work inside the UK dropped by 43% and "Brexit is likely to be a factor in people's decision to move to or from the UK," the ONS said.

The number of non-EU citizens leaving the UK remained steady, but the numbers relating to people from inside the EU increased by a third.

But applications to become British citizens from EU citizens also increased by 80%.

Professor Jonathan Portes, senior fellow at The UK in a Changing Europe, said: "[The figures] show that even long before any changes are made to the principle of free movement - which looks likely to continue in effect until at least 2021 - the UK has become a less attractive place for European migrants."