UK net migration needs to fall further, says Andy Burnham

UK net migration needs to fall further, says Andy Burnham8 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleChris Mason,Political editorandImogen WallaceReutersAndy Burnham speaks during his campaign launch for the Makerfield by-electionAndy Burnham has said UK net migration "needs to fall further", after new government figures showed it had almost halved since 2024. Labour's by-election candidate in Makerfield said people on the doorstep have "raised their concerns about immigration" with him.He added the latest figures on net migration - the difference between those entering and leaving the country - show the "trend is significantly down".On Thursday, Home Office data reported that migration added 171,000 people to the UK's population last year - with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying there was "more to do".The figure was at its lowest level since 2012, excluding the Covid pandemic.Burnham, the current Greater Manchester mayor, also said the government must "get the balance right" on its plans to make it harder for migrants to settle permanently in the UK.He said he "supports the broad thrust" of what Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is proposing.Mahmood has argued the planned changes are "fair" and required to avoid a "drain on our public finances".But some Labour MPs, including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, have described the retrospective nature of the proposals as "un-British" and a case of "moving the goalposts".Burnham highlighted the consultation on the home secretary's plans, adding: "We'll have to work hard to get the balance right, but the broad thrust of what she's doing is right."Settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain, gives a person the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible.The Home Office has forecast that around 1.6m pe...