Political expert Matt Goodwin has revealed a startling statistic about Britain’s immigration levels, highlighting that 1.2 million people migrated into the country last year.
Speaking to GB News, the pollster compared the influx to “a city the size of Birmingham in one year.”
The figure comes as Britain grapples with ongoing debates about its asylum and immigration systems.
Latest data from the Office for National Statistics confirms this trend, showing immigration to the UK has exceeded 1.2 million for the third consecutive year.
Matt Goodwin delivered the shocking statistic
GB News
Speaking to GB News, Goodwin said: “When Labour politicians sit here and they say returns are up, we’ve sent 7,000 people out of the country.
“What everyone out there needs to know is, maybe they’ve put a few more people on a plane but they’ve also given asylum to 66 per cent of people who have entered the country, often illegally, and applied for it, which is equivalent to about 60,000 people.
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“If I’m sitting in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and wherever else, and I think that this government’s giving 66 per cent of people asylum, I would think I’m going to take my chances at getting into that country illegally.
“So that’s where I think Labour are not being real and honest with the British people. And I feel very sorry, actually, for hard working, taxpaying citizens, because this is the number one issue in the country.
“They deserve to feel safe in their own country. They deserve to be treated with respect and decency. And nobody in British politics seems able to do that.”
Emily Carver said: “It’s actually quite extraordinary when you think about it. We’ve had net migration at the top end of the hundreds of thousands for several years under the Conservatives and British people are just supposed to what, not notice?”
1.2 million people migrated into the country last year
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Goodwin added: “Can I just give you one stat? Last year 1.2 million people migrated into Britain. That is equivalent to a city the size of Birmingham in one year.”
Emily said: “It’s crazy. I mean, it’s hard to even think about.”
The broader implications of these migration figures have raised concerns about Britain’s Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) system.
Policy expert Sam Bidwell has warned that ILR eligibility could reach millions, arguing the system “was not designed to cope with long-term settlement at such scale and pace.”
Emily Carver was left shocked at the stat, labelling it “crazy”
GB News
Those living in Britain under work or family visas can apply for ILR after a qualifying period, gaining access to NHS, universal credit and social housing.
They also become eligible for the UK state pension after 10 years of National Insurance contributions.
Bidwell urged that immigration rules must be reformed to “reflect the real needs of our economy and the expressed will of the British people.”
The fiscal impact of migration has been highlighted in OBR figures, showing average low-wage migrant workers will cost British taxpayers £465,000 by their 80s.