As the UK population rises, the challenges – and opportunities – for the economy are plain
The IndependentThe best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The vista for the UK in the medium term is of a grey nation suffering from terrible demographic trends: people will be living longer but in poorer health, which – in turn – will be placing unprecedented pressure on the dwindling number of people of working age, despite continuing inward migration. Yet if the response is to restrict migration, both lawful and irregular – as many voters would wish – then the British will be faced with even more severe labour shortages, higher wage costs. Nigel Farage airily declares that he favours “net zero” migration, which, given that he couldn’t control emigration from the UK, doesn’t even make sense. Despite claims to the contrary, no one favours an “open door” policy – and most people accept that some migration is both desirable and inevitable.
History of this topic
Immigrants become scapegoats amid economic challenges in Britain
China Daily
Immigrants become scapegoats amid economic challenges in Britain
China Daily
Sunak claims Labour would make UK ‘illegal migration capital of the world’
The Independent
Can Britain really manage without overseas labour?
The Independent
Migration to the UK is a sign of economic success – not failure
The Independent
UK rejects ‘uncontrolled immigration’ despite labour shortages
Al Jazeera
The government may not see the merits of immigration – but London does
The Independent
Farage claims tragic migrant deaths could be prevented if UK made clear illegal entrants will be deported
The Independent
Theresa May's strict immigration rules are keeping the numbers down – by driving British citizens out
The Independent
Drop the Target: Theresa May must drop the tens of thousands net migration cap – sign our petition now
The Independent
Immigrants who ‘consume’ Britain’s wealth are not welcome, Liam Fox says
The Independent
The left is playing a dangerous game in ignoring the evidence over immigration
The Independent
Net migration is 200,000 higher than Cameron's promise - and we're right to be outraged. It should be more
The Independent
New migration figures are an indicator of Britain’s economic success
The Independent
Migration hits second highest level EVER at 333,000 and nearly HALF are from the EU as Boris Johnson warns we can ‘kiss goodbye’ to border controls without Brexit
Daily Mail
Report says cutting migration after Brexit 'would not wreck the economy'
Daily Mail
Tony Blair insists migration of two MILLION EU workers to Britain has been GOOD for UK
Daily Mail
Labour split over migrant crisis as Jeremy Corbyn describes influx as 'an opportunity'
Daily Mail
European influx into the UK rises by 27% in a year in a fresh blow to Cameron's target to reduce net migration to 'tens of thousands'
Daily MailDiscover Related