In his pod cast on Friday 26 March, the Prime Minister said "Some people talk as if net inward migration is rising. In fact, it is falling - down from 237,000 in 2007, to 163,000 in 2008, to provisional figures of 147,000 last year". The first two figures refer to Long Term Immigration and are correct. The last of these figures is wrong on three counts: - It refers to the International Passenger Survey (IPS) which is only one element in the estimate of migration. These figures are adjusted for asylum seekers, migration from Ireland, those who come as visitors and apply to stay etc. As a result, the statisticians usually add about 38,000 to the annual IPS figure to produce the estimate for immigration. - The first two numbers are for calendar years but the third is a mid year figure up to June 2009. - It is also a cumulative annual total covering the previous 4 quarters so it is different in kind from a calendar year figure, especially if there is seasonal variation. Commenting, Sir Andrew Green Chairman of Migrationwatch said, "The clear intention was to produce a series of figures which looked like a decline even if they were not of the same kind. In fact immigration in 2009 could well be higher than in 2008 although nobody, including the Prime Minster, can yet know. This amounts to fiddling the figures for presentational purposes and is completely unacceptable, especially on such a sensitive subject.” NOTE TO EDITORS: NOTES
Press Releases
Prime Minister gets his facts wrong on immigration
March 27, 2010
1. The IPS figure quoted by the Prime Minister can be found here:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/IPS-estimates-of-long-term-international-migration-YE-Jun-09.xls
2. The ONS explanation of the difference between the two series can found here:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/Provisional-IPS-vs-LTIM.pdf
3. The calendar year figures can be found here:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15053A selection of recent media reports
Thursday, 1 April 2010
PM calls for united front in speech but comes under attack for misuse of statistics in podcast
The Guardian (31-Mar-2010)
Gordon Brown was today accused of misleading the British people over immigration after the head of the national statistics watchdog criticised him for mis-using...
Daily Mail (31-Mar-2010)
On the same day Gordon Brown made a speech on immigration, he has been been reprimanded by the UK Statistics Authority for his use of dodgy immigration statistics in a podcast made last...
Conservatives (31-Mar-2010)
In a podcast on Friday, Mr Brown said net migration into the UK fell from 237,000 in 2007 to 163,000 in 2008 and provisionally 147,000 in 2009. But the head of UK Statistics Authority agreed with a Tory complaint that he had made inaccurate...
BBC News (31-Mar-2010)
GORDON Brown is gearing up to answer YOUR questions ahead of the General Election in our exclusive web...
Daily Express (31-Mar-2010)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been criticised by the national statistics watchdog for mis-using immigration statistics. Sir Michael Scholar said the PM used data that was "not comparable" in a podcast last...
Mirror.co.uk (31-Mar-2010)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was criticised by the national statistics watchdog today for mis-using immigration statistics. Sir Michael Scholar said the PM used data that was "not comparable" in a podcast last...
The Independent (31-Mar-2010)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown revises the statistics he has quoted for the second time in a fortnight following a FactCheck investigation, and is ticked off by the Statistics...
Channel 4 News (31-Mar-2010)
If immigration was discussed too much at the last general election there is a danger that it won't be discussed enough this time. David Cameron wants to look different from Michael Howard and fears that talking about immigration might undermine his "change"...
M.Guardian (31-Mar-2010)
Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, comments on Gordon Brown's speech on immigration...
Politics.co.uk (31-Mar-2010)
Gordon Brown warned today against political parties 'scaremongering' about immigration in the general election campaign. In a highly-political speech devoid of policy, the Prime Minister condemned the Conservatives for appealing to the 'worst instincts of nationalism and xenophobia'.
Daily Mail (31-Mar-2010)
The Conservatives comment on Gordon Brown's speech on immigration...
Politics.co.uk (31-Mar-2010)
A Belgian parliamentary committee voted Wednesday to impose a nationwide ban on wearing the Islamic burqa in public. FRANCE 24 examines the issues surrounding this controversial...
Silobreaker (31-Mar-2010)
The Prime Minister has explained how the Government is transforming the way it deals with immigration through its controlled and fair points-based...
Number 10.gov.uk (31-Mar-2010)
boat people cuaght yesterday / the australian Source: The Australian UPDATE 1pm: PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has defended Australia's asylum seeker policy, asking that common sense be applied to the...
Silobreaker (31-Mar-2010)
One of the prime minister's most difficult tasks will be to dispel the near-universal media and popular myth that immigration is out of control in this country The cautious, almost low-key tone of today's Gordon Brown speech on immigration contrasts sharply with the declamatory...
Silobreaker (31-Mar-2010)
Tory plans for an annual cap on non-EU migrants will be unworkable and bad for business, the Prime Minister will say in a pre-election speech on immigration...
Yahoo Uk And Ireland News (31-Mar-2010)
A rapist refugee sparked anger yesterday when plans to deport him were axed - so he can wed. MPs were outraged after a judge blamed a Home Office bungle for forcing him to spare Alphonse Semo, 53, two hours before he was due on a plane for his native Democratic Republic of...
Mirror.co.uk (31-Mar-2010)
A re-elected Labour government will deliver a "controlled and fair" immigration system flexible enough to meet the needs of British business, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will promise...
The Independent (31-Mar-2010)
A ROMANIAN refugee secretly lived in a woman s shed, had picnics in the garden and chatted with neighbours. Tilly Newman was unaware of her lodger until she went to spring-clean the shed and found the man sleeping on the garden...
Daily Star (31-Mar-2010)
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