Net migration to the UK has plummeted by more than 100,000 since the vote for Brexit. The difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and the number of people leaving to live elsewhere fell to 230,000 over the period, down from a peak of 336,000 seen in the year ending June 2016. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people moving to live in Britain long-term had fallen to 230,000, the largest drop since the records began. Nicola White, the ONS' head of migration statistics, said: "There has been a 43% decrease in the number of people immigrating to look for work over the last year, especially for EU citizens."

Analysts have warned of a possible “brain drain” in vital industries with the departure of 123,000 EU citizens since June 2016 – a dramatic increase from 28,000 the previous year, alongside a drop in arrivals from the bloc. Emigration was highest among those from the original group of 15 EU countries including Germany, France and Spain, followed by eight central and eastern European countries including Poland that joined in 2004, and Romania and Bulgaria.

Immigrants no longer feel welcome in the UK due to rise in hate crime and violence, UK is less attractive to the immigrants
Around 128,000 British people also left the UK in the year to June, with some saying the EU referendum had driven them to move abroad, or apply for citizenship from other countries including Ireland. Maike Bohn, a founding member of EU citizens’ group - The 3 Million, said more people would leave until the Government provides certainty over their status over Brexit. He said, “This trend will continue as the hostile environment bites more and more.”

Analysts at research body the UK in a Changing Europe said the country had become a “less attractive place for European migrants” even more so because of the curbs to freedom of movement. Professor Jonathan Portes said the stark figures were partly because of the slowing economy and falling value of the pound, and partly because of the “wider social and political impacts of the Brexit vote”. “Whatever your views on the impact of immigration, it cannot be good news that the UK is a less attractive place to live and work, and that we will be poorer as a result,” he added. The Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson, Ed Davey, said immigration was falling because of the “catastrophic consequences of the Government taking Britain out of the world’s largest single market”. “The Conservative pursuit of an extreme Brexit is crashing the economy and making the country a less attractive place to be,” he added.

Government committed to bringing decrease in net migration levels
Immigration minister Brandon Lewis, said, "We're determined to ensure the United Kingdom remains open for business attracting the brightest and best, and the most able from around the world.
"That's why it's good to see our visas for entrepreneurs and investors in the United Kingdom are up. Our visa applications for students are up. And our visa applications for visitors are also up, with a record number of passengers coming to the UK as tourists and to study here and to work here."
Brandon added that the Government would continue reforming routes from outside Europe and will negotiate the “right deal” in Brexit negotiations. “We have been clear we want to attract and retain people who come to our country to work and bring significant benefits to the UK. With more Europeans continuing to arrive than leave, these figures show that claims of a ‘Brexodus’ are misguided,” he added. “At the same time, there is no consent for uncontrolled immigration. We welcome the ongoing decrease in net migration levels and remain committed to bringing them down to sustainable levels, the tens of thousands."