Migrant population increases by half a million in three years

The number of migrants in England increased by more than half a million between 2011 and 2014, new analysis from the University of Oxford has revealed.

The research, which will feature on BBC's Inside Out show tonight, aims to provide a more up-to-date estimate of the migrant populations than the 2011 Census, which is now four years old.

It calculates that between 2011 and 2014 the number of migrants living in England increased by around 565,000, two thirds of whom were born in EU countries and one third born outside of the EU.

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Researchers used data from the latest Official Labour Force Survey to evaluate local demographics of migration in England in a bid to inform immigration debates in the run-up to the general election.

Their numbers are based on projections, not actual counts of migrants, and are based on a "strong assumption" that the geographical distribution of new migrants has stayed the same over the three years.

London appeared to have the highest increase in migrant population, growing by an estimated 189,000. At the lower end of the scale, the north east population rose by 26,000 and the south west rose by 30,000.

It comes a week after figures published by the Office for National Statistics showed that the government had substantially missed its net immigration target, with the figure at 298,000 last year.

Nevertheless, Home Secretary Theresa May reaffirmed the Tories' commitment to its "no ifs, no buts" promise to reduce the annual figure to the tens of thousands.

"You will have to wait for the manifesto to see the exact words," she told The Times. "The idea of the net migration target will still be there. It will be measured."

Inside Out is broadcast on Friday 6 March at 7.30pm on BBC One