Blogs
We publish blogs that draw on data and research, and through them we inform debate, spark discussion, and explore the wider implications of current developments.
Analysis, Commentary and Research Updates
Explore our latest publications on immigration and asylum policies. Stay informed with well-researched insights.
Asylum Seeker Hotel Costs In Context
Over the past few decades, the numbers relating to government spending only seem to rise and rise. This can be quite de-sensitising. Eventually, an exasperated taxpayer might even be forgiven for caring little for ‘just’…
Learn MoreThe Abuse Of Modern Slavery Laws By Asylum Seekers
Key points 1. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was passed in order to combat modern slavery in the United Kingdom. Since 2018, 15,977 UK nationals (3,195 per year on average) have been referred to the…
Learn MoreIrregular Immigration Behind The Broken Asylum System
The latest irregular migration statistics released on 25th August for the year ending June 2022 revealed the extent to which irregular (what used to be termed illegal) migration, feeds the broken asylum system, since nearly all those entering…
Learn MoreNumber Of People Per Illegal Boat Has Shot Up Five-fold Over Past Five Years
As the government has prevaricated and revealed its impotence on tackling boat arrivals, more than 2,500 boats have breached our borders. And new figures reveal that the average number of people per boat has risen five-fold since…
Learn MoreOverwhelmed, Abused Asylum System Costs You £2 Billion In Taxes As Illegal Boats Mount
New statistics released by the Home Officereveal just how costly, overwhelmed and abused our asylum system has become as illegal boat crossings have skyrocketed. More than 60,000 have arrived illegally by boat since January 2018 and…
Learn MoreAll-time High Immigration: Record 1.1 Million Entry Grants To Live In The Uk
The Home Office released visa, asylum and immigration statisticspertaining to the year to June 2022. These reveal a large increase in immigration since before the pandemic, with an astonishing 1.1 million visas granted for people to come…
Learn MoreOpen Letter To Conservative Leadership Candidates
Below is the text of an open letter sent to both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, highlighting the support for reducing overall immigration among the British public-as revealed by our recent polling data. The Right…
Learn MoreConservative Voters Strongly Favour Reducing Immigration
New polling conducted by Migration Watch UK demonstrates significant public support for reducing immigration into Britain. Despite claims in recent years that after Brexit the British public are now softer on immigration and its impact,…
Learn MoreCensus Confirms Huge Population Growth In Overcrowded England And Wales
Some of the first results to be published from Census 2021 show that the population of England and Wales grew from 56 million to 59.5 million, or by 3.5 million between 2011 and 2021 –…
Learn MoreBoris Johnson’s Proposed Illegal Immigration Amnesty
Commenting, Alp Mehmet, Vice Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “It seems Mr Johnson is considering an amnesty for illegal immigrants in order to avoid another Windrush. This makes no sense. Those wrongly caught up in Windrush had every right to be here and bear no comparison to people who have either entered
The United Kingdom’s Points Based System
Summary The UK already has a Points Based System (PBS) but it has failed to reduce, or even control, immigration. It needs reinforcement, not disruptive change. The Australian system operates entirely differently – its main purpose is to increase, not to reduce, immigration. The UK Experience A PBS was introduced
Written Evidence Submitted By Migration Watch To House Of Commons Public Bill Committee On The Immigration And Social Security Co-ordination Bill
Spring 2019 Summary: 1. We are a migration think tank. We monitor developments in the field, conduct research and make policy suggestions. We believe that immigration policy should be formulated so that it benefits the people of the UK and accords with the national interest. While immigration can have a
Why Should We Allow International Graduates To Stay On And Stack Shelves?
The government has announced the introduction of a two-year post-study work route for foreign graduates of UK universities. It is already the case that are no limits on the number of international students who can remain in the UK if they move into skilled roles. However, the fact that only
Immigration Implications Of Indicative Votes
Summary Parliament are conducting further indicative votes today. The immigration implications of the four options are outlined below. As long as the UK leaves the EU and EEA it should be able to assert sovereign control over immigration although pressure for concessions might arise in future trade negotiations. (see our paper).
How Much Control Do Member States Have Over Free Movement?
Summary The suggestion that Belgium has shown that inflows of EU citizens can be controlled despite free movement is simply wrong. While EU law makes provision for certain restrictions on entry and stay, the scope is limited and both technical and practical issues severely restrict its application in practice. Context