Population in UK & Migration

NEWS RELEASEAugust 22 2007

NEW MIGRATION FIGURES SHOW UK QUALITY OF LIFE FALLING – OPT

The record figures for emigration in the latest UK population statistics are further evidence of the decline in Britain’s quality of life caused by overcrowding, the Optimum Population Trust said today (Wednesday August 22).
Commenting on the figures, which showed that UK population grew by 349,000 to mid-2006 and that long-term migration out of the UK reached 385,000 over the same period - the highest figure since the indicator was introduced in 1991 - David Nicholson-Lord, OPT research associate, said: “Out-migration has been climbing for several years now and survey evidence strongly suggests it is driven by a perceived decline in UK quality of life, with congestion, queues, overcrowding and general ‘lack of space’ a key element in people’s decisions to move. The new figures indicate that more and more people are opting for a more spacious and less fraught existence overseas, in countries where there are simply fewer crowds and more room to breathe.
“England is by some measures now the world’s fourth most densely populated country and the overall population increase reported today, equivalent to a city larger than Leicester, shows that this is going to get worse. Over the next six decades the UK population is forecast to rise by another 10 million. Given that many of the people leaving will be skilled professionals, the figures suggest that unsustainably high population levels in the UK may already be causing significant economic damage.”
Optimum Population Trust, 12 Meadowgate, Urmston, Manchester M41 9LB, UKTel: 07976-370 221 email: info@optimumpopulation.org