FORMER Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said the new migration numbers are “extraordinary and shocking” but the Government can still reduce the number significantly.

He told GBNews: “These numbers are extraordinary and shocking, but the government can turn this around. One of the perks, advantages, and benefits of leaving the EU means we can take back control and we have clear data on who is coming in and out of this country and this makes it possible for the numbers to be reduced.

“How bad is this net 606,000 figure? Well, first of all, 114,000 came from Ukraine, and another 52,000 came from Hong Kong, which almost everyone accepts is a good thing to be doing and our duty. So, these numbers are there, but they’re not likely to continue.

“Assume that both Ukraine and Hong Kong settle down in the next few years that would bring the net number down by 150,000 to 450,000. Those coming in on the study route, by and large seem to leave – but we need to make sure that that happens.

“Interestingly 121,000 came in in 2019 and 153,000 left in 2012. So, if they were doing a three-year course, more left than came in, so if we could now freeze on student numbers at their current level and stop dependence, net migration in the next couple of years would come down very sharply.

“However, this requires tough action, and the Government hasn’t been taking that, it’s largely scrapped the resident labour market test, which required employers to advertise a position in the UK first.”

Mr Rees-Mogg added: “The Government has issued shortage occupation lists for roles such as architecture, engineering and scientists, which allow employers to pay less to pay the immigrants 80% of the going rate, this just drives wages down.

“Instead, the market should be offering better wages, which will encourage more people domestically to train in such professions. Work visas do not help the economy. They force wages and productivity crucially down; you get cheap labour rather than investing in better productivity and mechanisation.

“Unfortunately, mass migration is based on the economic fallacy that reducing migration ought to lead to growth in the national income per person so that each one of them each one of us is better off.”