LONDON, Aug 5: More than two million migrants are expected to arrive in the United Kingdom over the next decade, according to a campaign group, Migration Watch UK.
The group, set up in December last year by former diplomat Sir Andrew Green and Oxford University academic Dr David Coleman, is calling for “greater urgency and resolution” from the British government on the asylum issue.
“Our latest analysis of all the available figures shows that, even using very cautious estimates for illegal immigration we are approaching a quarter of a million migrants a year for the first time in our history,” said Sir Andrew.
The group is warning that immigration will have “profound impact” on British society, they said any failure to discuss the influx of people openly would play into the hands of the far right.
“Immigration at this rate will have a profound effect on the nature and shape of our society for decades to come. It is therefore essential that this subject be brought out of the closet so that there can be an open debate.”
But according to official figures, migration to the UK in 2000 was just over 183,000, of whom 125,000 were granted the right to settle.
During the last 12 months, the biggest refugee group was from Afghanistan, with roughly 10,000 Afghans applying for asylum.
The Migration Watch UK estimates that a further 35,000 visitors to the UK, including students and tourists, may overstay their visas every year and another 25,000 illegal immigrants may go undetected.
