Immigration claims a nonsense, says MEP Paul Nuttall

Ministers' claims to 'control migration at sustainable levels' are a nonsense, said local MEP Paul Nuttall.

"And today's figures from the Office for National Statistics prove that the government's idea of controlling immigration is a complete farce."

The figures show that in the year up to March, there has been a a 'statistically significant' increase in net migration into the UK from 175,000 to 243,000,

EU citizens accounted for two-thirds of the increase.

"The Prime Minister has pledged to reduce net migration to below 100,000 by 2015, well good luck with that Dave, as his hands are completely tied by the EU and he has no intention of withdrawing Britain from its grip.

"Interestingly, and as predicted by UKIP last year, people from Romania and Bulgaria contribute to the latest figures, with a rise up to 28,000 from 12,000 in the previous 12 months," said Mr Nuttall, the party's deputy leader.

"These ONS statistics also show a rise in the amount of people in the UK who were born abroad, 12.4% of the UK's "usual population" in 2013, an increase from 8.9% in 2004. There was also a rise in the number who had non-British nationality, from 5% to 7.8%.

"This all puts enormous pressure on housing, education and health services and it is no wonder our public services are creaking under the load. Enough is enough and this is too much. We must tighten our borders and leave the EU," added Mr Nuttall.