Net Migration to UK Soars by 80,000 to 260,000 Leaving David Cameron Facing Uphill Battle

Overall net migration has soared to 260,000 in the year ending June 2014, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS said that in the 12 months leading to June, there was a "significant increase" in net migration as it rose by 78,000.

Overall, well over half a million people came to the UK in the selected time frame, with 323,000 people emigrating from the country.

However, it remains below the 2005 peak when net migration was at 320,000.

Since September 2012, when net migration reached a low of 154,000, the figures have been steadily rising despite assurances from Prime Minister David Cameron that he would curb immigration.

He now faces an uphill battle and his promise to get immigration figures below 100,000 before the general election in 2015 seems very unlikely.