Claim 89866912Checked 21 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“Net migration reached nearly one million under the Conservatives.”
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
Net migration did reach approximately 944,000 (or 906,000 under earlier estimates) at its peak in 2023, under the Conservative government, which can fairly be described as "nearly one million." The ONS's most recent revised estimates (November 2025) show that net migration peaked at 944,000 in the year ending (YE) March 2023. Previously, the ONS had estimated the peak at 906,000 in YE June 2023. Both of these peak periods fall entirely within the period of Conservative government — Labour did not take office until July 2024. Characterising 906,000–944,000 as "nearly one million" is a fair and accurate description. Full Fact has previously noted that Starmer has sometimes conflated "immigration" (which peaked at around 1.3 million) with "net migration" (which peaked at around 906,000–944,000) in some speeches. However, in this specific speech, Starmer correctly uses the term "net migration," so the claim is accurately stated.
Sources:
- Office for National Statistics, "Improving long-term international migration statistics, updating our methods and estimates: November 2025" — https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/improvinglongterminternationalmigrationstatisticsupdatingourmethodsandestimates/november2025
- Office for National Statistics, "Long-term international migration, provisional" — https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/latest
- BBC News, "Net migration hit record 906,000 last year, revised figures show" — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3degx4029ko
- Full Fact, "Prime Minister again appears to confuse immigration and net migration figures" — https://fullfact.org/politics/angela-eagle-pmqs-immigration-figures/
From speech
I am proud of what we are delivering on this side of the House. The fastest growing economy in the G7—they said it could not be done. Despite the war in the middle east, the OECD forecasts that UK growth is up and inflation is down. Net migration, which reached nearly a million under the Conservatives—the Leader of the Opposition was the cheerleader—is down by a staggering 82%. The asylum backlog is down by 46%. We are delivering the fastest reduction in waiting times in the history of the NHS. That is on top of free school meals, free breakfast clubs and free childcare—and, of course, we are lifting half a million children out of poverty. I am very proud of the work of this Labour Government.
Sources opened
| [1] | ons.gov.uk |
| [2] | bbc.com |
| [3] | fullfact.org |
| [4] | ons.gov.uk |
| [5] | theguardian.com |
| [6] | ons.gov.uk |
| [7] | blog.ons.gov.uk |
| [8] | ons.gov.uk |
| [9] | bbc.com |