A recent study by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick challenges the prevailing neo-liberal orthodoxy in the UK. The report finds that mass migration has not boosted the economy as expected, but has instead strained public services and the housing sector. Despite promises to reduce immigration post-Brexit, the Conservative Party has overseen record levels of immigration without a corresponding increase in economic growth per capita.
Globalist advocates of mass migration argue that it benefits tax revenues and GDP, but the data tells a different story. While the UK’s GDP grew by 0.1 percent last year, GDP per person fell by 0.8 percent, significantly lower than the G7 average. The influx of migrants, mostly driven by mass migration, has not translated into economic benefits for the average British citizen.
The report highlights that the UK’s post-Brexit immigration reforms, intended to focus on selective skills-based immigration, have resulted in low-skilled migrants entering the country. This has led to economic challenges, with migrants from certain regions earning significantly less or being more likely to be economically inactive compared to native-born Britons.
Additionally, mass migration has contributed to a housing deficit, driving up rent prices and putting pressure on the NHS. The report calls for stricter immigration controls, a new government department solely focused on immigration, and a hard cap on legal immigration.
The Conservative Party’s failure to fulfill its promise of reducing net migration highlights a disconnect between leadership and public sentiment. The report underscores the need for a reevaluation of the UK’s immigration policies to address the negative impact of mass migration on the economy and society.
