Immigration up by more than 20 percent

Net migration to the UK rose by more than 20% last year to 239,000, official figures showed Thursday. The increase from 198,000 in 2009 was fuelled by a fall in the number of people leaving the UK and goes against the Government's pledge to bring net migration down to the tens of thousands by 2015. Long-term immigration was 575,000, similar to the levels seen since 2004, while long-term emigration fell to 336,000 from 427,000 in 2008, estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed. Study remained the most common reason for those coming to the UK, with three in four of the 228,000 who come to the UK for study coming from outside the EU. But the number of people coming to the UK for a definite job was at its lowest in more than six years, at 110,000. The number of those leaving the UK for work-related reasons was at its lowest for three years at 179,000, the ONS estimates showed.