Immigration to UK increase after Brexit?

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Boris Johnson's government oversaw a significant increase in UK immigration between 2021 and 2024, despite pledges to reduce net migration
. Post-Brexit policies, including a new points-based system, aimed to control borders but actually led to high inflows of workers, which Johnson later admitted was a "mistake" and "too big".
Key details regarding immigration under Boris Johnson include:

- The "Boris Wave": Approximately 4.8 million people moved to the UK between 2021 and 2024, with net migration reaching record levels around 700,000.
- Policy Shift: Johnson introduced a points-based system that replaced EU freedom of movement, yet liberalized rules for non-EU workers, enabling more low-skilled workers to enter to fill labor shortages.
- Labor Demands: Johnson acknowledged the government allowed higher migration to fill roles in industries like care and to prevent inflationary pressures on wages, often termed "needing hands to do the work".
- Key Drivers: Beyond work visas, significant numbers arrived through humanitarian routes for Ukraine and Hong Kong, alongside a rise in foreign student dependents.
- Admitted Miscalculation: Johnson acknowledged in 2024 that the government "underestimated the magnetic pull of the UK" and that the levels of low-skilled immigration were higher than intended.

The surge was a mix of unexpected demand for foreign labor post-pandemic/Brexit and intentional policies designed to fill gaps in the labor market, resulting in higher immigration levels than during the pre-Brexit era.