Local MP Marcus Jones has today welcomed news that net migration into the UK is down by almost a third since the general election, which is the result of tough reforms pushed through by the Conservatives.

Official statistics this week showed that net immigration into the UK in the year ending June 2012 was 163,000; this is down significantly from 235,000 in the year ending June 2010.

The number of visas issued also fell by 10 per cent to the lowest level since 2005, indicating that the downward trend in net migration is sent to continue.

Commenting, Nuneaton’s MP, Marcus Jones said: “After years of uncontrolled immigration under Labour people here in Nuneaton want an immigration system they can trust. The Conservatives are pushing through much-needed reforms which are bringing immigration back under control. These latest statistics show that work is paying off with another significant fall in net migration. It is down almost a third since the election – and the latest visa statistics indicate that this trend is set to continue. 

“Immigration is still too high but the numbers are going in the right direction and the Conservatives are determined to bring them down further.”

Conservative Immigration Minister, Mark Harper MP, added:  “We will continue to work hard to bring net migration down from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands by the end of this Parliament and to create a selective immigration system that works in our national interest.”