IMMIGRATION has resulted in Britain's population rising by 400,000 last year and the total is expected to hit 70 million in eight years, two years earlier than previous predictions.
In the year to mid-2018, births were two per cent fewer and deaths were three per cent more. But net increase in international migration resulted in population increasing by 0.6 per cent.
While the total number of migrants to the UK was 626,000, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year, the number leaving the UK was 351,000, a three per cent increase.
Net migration of 275,000 was "broadly in line" with the average of the last five years, the Office for the National Statistics said.
"For the fifth year in a row, net international migration was a bigger driver of population change than births and deaths," Neil Park of the ONS said.
"However, overall population change to the year mid-2018 has remained fairly stable as an increase in net international migration has been roughly matched by the fewest births in over a decade and the highest number of deaths since the turn of the century."
The four local authorities with the fastest-growing population were all in central London – the City of London, Westminster, Camden and Tower Hamlets – as 237,300 people moved to the capital.
Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “These latest statistics underline the consequences of the Government’s failure to bring immigration under control and in line with their repeated promises and the strong wishes of the public.
“The candidates for the Conservative leadership should be invited to say what they propose to do about it.”
Robin Maynard, from charity Population Matters, said the latest figures gave "no grounds for complacency" about UK population growth.
"Birth rates and migration fluctuate from year to year but our already unsustainable population is continuing to rise and that will continue until a positive strategy is put in place to address it," he was quoted as saying.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)