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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK population now more than 61m | UK population now more than 61m |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The UK population has passed 61 million for the first time, according to the Office for National Statistics. | The UK population has passed 61 million for the first time, according to the Office for National Statistics. |
| There were 408,000 more people living in the UK in 2008, taking the population to 61.4 million. | There were 408,000 more people living in the UK in 2008, taking the population to 61.4 million. |
| For the first time in almost a decade, changes in birth and death rates have overtaken immigration as the biggest factor affecting population growth. | For the first time in almost a decade, changes in birth and death rates have overtaken immigration as the biggest factor affecting population growth. |
| Overall migration levels - the numbers of people arriving minus those leaving - fell by 44% to 118,000. | Overall migration levels - the numbers of people arriving minus those leaving - fell by 44% to 118,000. |
| This is the lowest level since EU enlargement. | This is the lowest level since EU enlargement. |
| The ONS said this latest increase in population was the biggest in nearly 50 years. | The ONS said this latest increase in population was the biggest in nearly 50 years. |
| In 1962 the population rose by 484,000 and in 1947 population levels rose by 551,000. | In 1962 the population rose by 484,000 and in 1947 population levels rose by 551,000. |
| There are now 1.3 million people aged over 85, a record number, who make up 2% of the total population. | There are now 1.3 million people aged over 85, a record number, who make up 2% of the total population. |
| The British people can be confident that immigration is under control Immigration Minister Phil Woolas | The British people can be confident that immigration is under control Immigration Minister Phil Woolas |
| There were 791,000 babies born in the UK last year, an increase of 33,000 on 2007, and a figure which is almost twice the rise recorded at the start of this decade. | There were 791,000 babies born in the UK last year, an increase of 33,000 on 2007, and a figure which is almost twice the rise recorded at the start of this decade. |
| The population is now growing by 0.7% every year, more than double the rate in the 1990s and three times the level of the 1980s. | The population is now growing by 0.7% every year, more than double the rate in the 1990s and three times the level of the 1980s. |
| 'Strong borders' | 'Strong borders' |
| Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:"The fall in net migration is further proof that migrants come to the UK for short periods of time, work, contribute to the economy and then return home. | Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:"The fall in net migration is further proof that migrants come to the UK for short periods of time, work, contribute to the economy and then return home. |
| "Our new flexible points-based system gives us greater control on those coming to work or study from outside Europe, ensuring that only those that Britain need can come. | "Our new flexible points-based system gives us greater control on those coming to work or study from outside Europe, ensuring that only those that Britain need can come. |
| "Britain's borders are stronger than ever before. Our border controls in northern France are stopping record numbers of migrants reaching our shores - 28,000 in 2008. | "Britain's borders are stronger than ever before. Our border controls in northern France are stopping record numbers of migrants reaching our shores - 28,000 in 2008. |
| "The British people can be confident that immigration is under control." | "The British people can be confident that immigration is under control." |
| Migration goes in cycles. It's now declining sharply Tim Finch,Institute for Public Policy Research | Migration goes in cycles. It's now declining sharply Tim Finch,Institute for Public Policy Research |
| But shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: "These figures show our population is still rising fast, even when the recession is driving hundreds of thousands of people to leave. | But shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: "These figures show our population is still rising fast, even when the recession is driving hundreds of thousands of people to leave. |
| "This puts added pressure on housing and transport, and shows that there is still no proper control over immigration numbers." | "This puts added pressure on housing and transport, and shows that there is still no proper control over immigration numbers." |
| Scaremongering | Scaremongering |
| Tim Finch from the left-leaning think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, said migration flows go in cycles. | Tim Finch from the left-leaning think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, said migration flows go in cycles. |
| "It is now declining sharply - almost certainly because of a combination of the economic downturn, the short term nature of much migration from new EU countries, and the impact of stronger controls put in place by the government. | "It is now declining sharply - almost certainly because of a combination of the economic downturn, the short term nature of much migration from new EU countries, and the impact of stronger controls put in place by the government. |
| "There has been a lot of irresponsible scaremongering about immigration in recent years which was based on the false assumption that high migration was inevitable for years to come." | "There has been a lot of irresponsible scaremongering about immigration in recent years which was based on the false assumption that high migration was inevitable for years to come." |
| But a group of MPs, the Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration, said the population would continue to grow by millions of people. | |
| The Labour MP Frank Field and Tory Nicholas Soames issued a joint statement, saying the fall in net migration may well be temporary. | |
| "Even at the present level of immigration, we are still on target for the UK's population to exceed 70 million within 25 years," they said. | |
| "There are no laurels to rest on. The need for firm measures on immigration is unchanged. The public clearly understand this." | |
| Donna Covey from the Refugee Council said the government had to keep the door open to genuine asylum seekers. | |
| "We must make sure that the focus on strengthening Britain's borders does not prevent people fleeing for their lives from getting to safety here in the UK," she said. | "We must make sure that the focus on strengthening Britain's borders does not prevent people fleeing for their lives from getting to safety here in the UK," she said. |