Andy Burnham has stated that he does not believe the annual figure of 171,000 for legal immigration is too high, arguing that it is a 'planned' level designed to address economic needs. Speaking in an interview with ITV, Burnham indicated that the net migration figure has significantly decreased and is now in a "much better place."
These remarks come despite official figures indicating a large number of unemployed individuals and a substantial population of working-age people who are economically inactive. The latest data shows 1.7 million unemployed, with an additional nine million people of working age not participating in the labor force.
Long-term immigration reached a high of 944,000 in 2023 but has since seen a considerable reduction, a trend attributed by the Conservatives to measures they have implemented. When questioned about whether immigration is too high, Burnham differentiated between legal migration and the number of individuals crossing borders in small boats, stating that the latter is "too high, for certain."
Regarding legal migration, Burnham explained that a planned approach is necessary because "it's got to be, if you like, following gaps in the economy." He suggested that setting a fixed number could lead to shortages in specific sectors, hindering recruitment efforts. He reiterated that the current situation is an improvement, with "much better control" over migration numbers, and acknowledged that Brexit had a significant impact on migration patterns, both legal and illegal.