UK net migration up by 21%

London: Net migration to Britain jumped by 21% to 239,000 last year fuelled by a sharp fall in the number of people going to live abroad, according to new official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said long-term immigration to Britain in 2010 was 575,000, similar to the levels seen each year since 2004.

At the same time the annual migration statistics show that the number of people leaving Britain to live abroad for more than 12 months was 336,000 in 2010, 91,000 lower than the 2008 figure for emigration.

The rise in net migration appears to be a further blow to the hopes of the home secretary, Theresa May, of bringing the annual figure for net migration down below 100,000.

She may however take some small comfort in the fact that the net migration figure of 239,000 for the year to December 2010 is slightly below the peak of 243,000 recorded for the 12 months to September 2010.

The ONS says overseas students make up the main group migrating to Britain, with 228,000 coming to study in 2010.

— Guardian News & Media Ltd