Figures released this week quoted by the London newspaper
The Evening Standard show that out of a total Greater London population of 7.4
million, only about 5 million were born in Britain. Of these, 3 thousand were
born in Malta.
One in three people living in London was born abroad and at least another
10,000 foreign-born citizens are settling in the capital each month. The number
of foreign-born Londoners increased from 2.3 million in June last year to
almost 2.5 million 12 months later.
The figures, from the UK Office for National Statistics, show the biggest
foreign-born communities include Indians (almost 200,000), Bangladeshis
(115,000), Irish (113,000) and Jamaicans (108,000). There are now just over
100,000 Poles living in London
and there are also large Nigerian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan populations.
Merrick Cockell, chairman of London Councils, told The Evening Standard that
the true figures could be even higher and called for more funding to help pay
for essential services. "London
boroughs are struggling to meet the increasing population's demands for
services such as social care and waste, while central government reaps all the
economic benefits from international migration," he said.
"The Government must distribute these benefits in a fairer way."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Jeremy Browne stressed cultural
diversity brought huge benefits to the capital. "London is a truly international city with a
constantly evolving population," he said, according to the Evening
Standard report. "The success of our financial markets and business climate
are attracting a wide range of entrepreneurs and workers. "That is
creating a social vibrancy but the Government needs to respond to legitimate
concerns about pressure on public services in some areas."
Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the amount of foreigners
moving to Britain
was "completely unacceptable" and called for an annual limit on the
number of non-European Union migrants. A Home Office spokesman said: "We
know migration added about £6billion to our economy last year and London has shared in the
benefits."
He said the independent Migration Impacts Forum would advise the Government
on how migration affects public services and communities, both impact and
benefits. A new points system, based on the Australia model, for immigration
will be introduced next year.
