The brain drain from Starmer’s socialist chaos: Record 110,051 seek asylum but Britons leave in droves

Britain is facing a new ‘brain drain’ that threatens to compound the pain of Rachel Reeves’ disastrous budget.

Asylum seekers now account for almost half of net migration, with official figures on Thursday revealing young Britons are emigrating.

Experts warn that such drastic changes risk further straining the public purse and dragging the economy down further, as Ms Reeves struggles with the growth drive.

They said taxpayers face an ‘unbearable burden’ to support immigrants arriving here, but this week’s Budget is likely to alienate more young people.

The Office for National Statistics said that following a series of tough Conservative Party measures, overall net migration – the difference between those coming to live in the UK long-term and those emigrating – fell to 204,000 by June.

But the number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain has reached a record high, meaning they make up a much larger proportion of the numbers.

Meanwhile, the ONS said 174,000 people aged 16 to 34 had fled Labour’s high-tax state in the year to March, accounting for just over two-thirds of Britons leaving the country.

Young people face a struggle to find work as part of the measures Ms Reeves announced on Wednesday, alongside the £30bn tax rises that thwart her manifesto; The increase in the minimum wage means businesses are less likely to give them a chance.

Asylum seekers now account for almost half of net migration, with official figures on Thursday revealing young Britons are emigrating. Picture: Migrants on an inflatable boat trying to cross the English Channel off the coast of Gravelines in northern France help others climb onto the boat, September 27, 2025

Those who find work will pay income tax earlier and at higher rates due to the freezing of allowances and tax ranges. Student loan repayment thresholds have also been paused, meaning graduates face earlier cuts to their pay packets when starting work.

Another important development that will affect the economy is the decrease in the number of skilled foreign workers coming here, from 75 thousand last year to 57 thousand in the 12 months until September.

New data showed that asylum seekers, including small boat migrants, made up 44 percent of the total number of migrants.

Separately, official statistics published for the first time on Thursday showed that migrants who gain refugee status are much more likely to be unemployed.

Even after living here for eight years, 48 ​​percent of working-age refugees are working; This rate is well below the average employment rate of 74 percent and they continue to receive social benefits.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘This is a shameful day for the Government. Almost half of net migration is asylum seekers, many of whom arrive illegally.

‘Nearly half of asylum seekers can’t find work, meaning hard-pressed taxpayers are being duped into providing a welfare fund for illegal immigrants.

‘This places an unbearable, multi-billion pound burden on the country’s finances.’

Mr Philp added: ‘This “brain drain” will only get worse after Labour’s punitive Budget this week.’

Dr. from Oxford University Migration Observatory. Ben Brindle said: ‘It seems that the composition of migration has become less economically favourable; ‘fewer people are getting skilled worker visas and there is a higher share of refugees, who often need a lot of support.’

Taking into account Britons returning to live here, net migration of British citizens during the year was 112,000, the majority of whom were aged 16-34.

By comparison, only 1,000 Britons over 65 emigrated, while 12,000 returned to live here.

A Migration Observatory spokesman added: ‘The only major migration category where net migration did not decrease was asylum.

‘Long-term refugee migration was 96,000 in the year ending June 2025, accounting for 11 per cent of all migration; This was twice the share of 5 percent in 2019.

Aside from the measures Ms Reeves announced on Wednesday, alongside her manifesto of £30bn tax rises, young people face a struggle to find work; rise in minimum wage means businesses less likely to give them a chance

‘Relatively small numbers of asylum seekers are migrating, so net migration of people seeking asylum in the same period was 90,000, equivalent to 44 per cent of total net migration.’

This was double the pre-Brexit figure of 22 per cent in 2019. But the figures may be much starker than what is shown in the Migration Observatory’s analysis.

Separate Home Office data published on Thursday, covering September, a more recent period than the ONS figures, showed a record 110,051 asylum claims.

This could ensure that the net migration rate of refugees is even more evident in future figures.

By June there was a decline in long-term immigration levels to 898,000; It fell below one million for the first time since 2021.

The largest group was immigrants from outside the EU, with 670,000 people.

This year saw 85,000 EU citizens come to live here long-term, down from a peak of 521,000 in 2016. It also saw 155,000 EU citizens emigrate from Britain.

Total immigration, including Britons, was 693,000.

The number of foreign nationals granted settled status has reached its highest level in more than a decade.

158,137 people were granted ‘indefinite leave to remain’; This is the highest figure since 2011. 240,613 people were granted British citizenship.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘Net migration is at its lowest level in half a decade and has fallen by more than two-thirds under this Government.

‘But we are going further because the pace and scale of migration is putting huge pressure on local communities.

‘Last week I announced reforms that will enable people who come here to contribute and give more than they receive.’