Immigration estimates wrong

Local councils are to carry out their own census-style checks on immigrant numbers because of glaring underestimates in official figures.

The councils, particularly in the South East, say that they do not get enough central government help with local services because the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is incapable of providing correct numbers. Because local immigrant populations are higher than the official estimates, Whitehall grants do not meet demands for housing, transport and other services and the councils are left struggling.

The ONS is updating its methods but the councils say it still wildly underestimates arrivals, particularly those from European Union accession countries.

The official figures are already very high but if the figures are even higher we could be looking at double or even triple the official figures. We just can’t cope. There should be an end to immigration at once atleast until we are able to manage all the immigrants.