Net migration to the UK hit a record high of more than 500,000 million people last financial year, according to new data released by Britain’s statistics agency.

The rise in long-term arrivals to the UK was the result of a post COVID-19 pandemic return of international students and by influxes of refugees from Ukrainian and Afghanistan as well as Hong Kong residents, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported,

Recruitment of overseas workers by UK employers – including the National Health Service in particular – was also a factor.

Observers say that Brexit has not reduced migration in the UK. Economist Jonathon Portes said migrants were finding new ways into the UK after the end of free movement from Europe.

The statistics showed that 1.1 million settled in Britain in the 12 months to June, with 560,000 leaving the country, meaning bet immigration of 504,000.

This is around three times the total in the previous year, when the pandemic stymied international travel; and it’s double the historic average.

The increase flies in the face of the UK government’s policy of reducing immigration rules.

Recently, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rebuffing calls from business leaders to ease visa rules.

Downing Street said on Thursday that Mr Sunak

A statement from Sunak’s office said the government remained “fully committed to bringing overall numbers down”.

“There are some unprecedented and unique circumstances which are having a significant impact on these statistics,” the statement said.

A statement from the ONS said an unprecedented series of world events, including the end of coronavirus lockdowns, the post-Brexit transition, the war in Ukraine and the resettlement of Afghans and Hong Kong British nationals, had all contributed to record levels of permanent immigration.

Another research paper from the Resolution Foundation said the data suggested migration patterns had shifted significantly after Brexit”, with 51,000 more EU citizens leaving the UK than arriving in the financial year.

The ONS data shows that of the 1.1 million people who came to stay in Britain long-term, 704,000 were from outside the EU – an increase of 379,000 from the previous year.

And it predicted the net migration figure would eventually settle at just above 200,000 a year.

Other observers say the latest figures may not a reliable guide to future trends, with immigration likely to slow, and emigration rise, over the next few years.

Madeleine Sumption, director of Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, was reported saying unusually high levels of immigration had been driven by humanitarian routes, the rebound in international study and high demand for staff in the NHS, with policy decisions taken as a result of Brexit playing a smaller role.

“We cannot assume they represent a ‘new normal’, and it would be rash to take major policy decisions based only on these numbers,” she told UK media.