Cameron FINALLY admits migration running at 333,000 a year is 'disappointing' - but blames the figure on strength of our economy!

  • Prime Minister gives press conference after attending G7 summit in Japan
  • Denies dodging speaking about figures yesterday showing second highest ever net migration
  • Cameron admits the figures are 'disappointing' but blames the strength of the UK economy and says 'wrecking' it not the answer
  • Also rejects claim from friend Steve Hilton that he is a 'closet' supporter of Brexit
  • Plays down row with Donald Trump saying he 'believes' in Special Relationship 
  • See more news on David Cameron at www.dailymail.co.uk/pm

David Cameron has admitted that figures showing migration to Britain running at more than triple his target are 'disappointing' - but insisted it was a sign of the strength of our economy.

The Prime Minister finally commented on the ONS data that found net migration was 333,000 in the year to December nearly 24 hours after it was published.

But he denied that he had been dodging addressing one of the biggest issues in the EU referendum campaign, saying he had been 'in meetings' with G7 leaders.

The comments came at a press conference wrapping up an international summit in Japan, where leaders issued yet another dire warning that Brexit would be a 'serious risk to growth'.

David Cameron commented on the migration figures at a press conference wrapping up the G7 summit in Japan today

David Cameron commented on the migration figures at a press conference wrapping up the G7 summit in Japan today

Mr Cameron had to be asked twice about the migration figures before addressing them.

He was initially pressed on why he had not responded to them when they were published, and said: 'At these G7s I have a day full of meetings and then I have a press conference.'

Challenged again later to speak about the numbers he said: 'The figures yesterday are disappointing. 

'They come at a time when Britain has created vast numbers of jobs. 

'It is important to remember there are vast numbers of British nationals in jobs.

'We have had a situation where for some years the British economy has been the growth economy, the job creating economy in the EU. That is one of the things that drives these figures.' 

He added: 'Let me say this to those who want to leave the single market and cause all the damage that would do to jobs and to growth and investment: I do not believe for one minute that the right way to control immigration is to wreck our economy.' 

Mr Cameron had to be asked twice about the migration figures before addressing them

Mr Cameron had to be asked twice about the migration figures before addressing them

But Mr Cameron said he believed the 'picture is changing' as the Eurozone gradually recovers.

The PM also flatly rejected suggestions from close friend Steve Hilton, his former policy guru in Downing Street, that he would be supporting Brexit if he was not in power. 

G7 leaders today warned that Brexit would be a 'serious risk to growth' (pictured David Cameron before his press conference)

G7 leaders today warned that Brexit would be a 'serious risk to growth' (pictured David Cameron before his press conference)

'I'm not really a closet anything,' Mr Cameron joked. 'I have pretty much had the same view about Europe ever since I have been involved in active politics...

'Our economic interest is such that we should stay in this organisation.'

Mr Cameron refused to apologise for blood-curdling warnings about the consequences of Brext, saying it was 'absolutely right to warn people of the risks and the dangers'.

He added: 'It is not just me saying there there are economic risks from leaving the EU.'

But the premier did say he would step back from making personal attacks against Tory opponents during the rest of the campaign.

He also reiterated that he believes 'Britain could thrive' outside the EU.

'I withdraw absolutely nothing I've previously said. Britain is an amazing country. We can find our way whatever the British people choose,' he said.

'But the question for us is not are we a great country, have we got a brilliant economy, have we got talented businesses, have we got great entrepreneurs, have we got amazing universities, brilliant scientists? Can we go on as we have in the past, breaking new boundaries in all these areas? The question is how do we do best?' 

Mr Cameron insisted the 'Special Relationship' with the US would survive despite a spat with Donald Trump.

The PM heavily criticised Mr Trump, now poised to become the Republican candidate in November's presidential election, after he suggested Muslims should be barred from entering America.

Mr Trump has since said he has been invited to Downing Street, but aides have indicated he will want an apology.

At the press conference today, Mr Cameron said he would be happy to work with whoever is leading the US.

'I believe in the special relationship,' he said.

Asked if he would now congratulate Mr Trump on securing the Republican nomination, the PM said he 'would congratulate anybody who could get through those marathon processes'.

The declaration issued from the G7 gathering at Ise-Shima is the latest in a series of warnings by international bodies of the dangers of a Leave vote in the June 23 referendum on the UK's EU membership.

Prime Minister David Cameron talks with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim as the attend aG7 'family' picture during the last day of the  summit meetings in Ise Shima, Japan

Prime Minister David Cameron talks with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim as the attend aG7 'family' picture during the last day of the summit meetings in Ise Shima, Japan

US President Barack Obama, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, French President Francois Hollande, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and David Cameron wave as they join other leaders of the G7 for a 'family' photo with other invited world leaders at the G7 Summit

US President Barack Obama, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, French President Francois Hollande, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and David Cameron wave as they join other leaders of the G7 for a 'family' photo with other invited world leaders at the G7 Summit

The document, released on the final day of the two-day summit, describes the referendum as one of a number of 'potential shocks of a non-economic origin' which could hit world growth. 

'UK exit from the EU would reverse the trend toward greater global trade, investment and the jobs they create and is a further serious risk to growth,' warned the document, agreed by leaders of the UK, US, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and Canada.

SPAT WITH TRUMP WON'T STOP SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP, PM SAYS

David Cameron has insisted the 'Special Relationship' with the US will survive despite his spat with Donald Trump.

The PM heavily criticised Mr Trump, now poised to become the Republican candidate in November's presidential election, after he suggested Muslims should be barred from entering America.

Mr Trump has since said he has been invited to Downing Street, but aides have indicated he will want an apology.

At the press conference today, Mr Cameron said he would be happy to work with whoever is leading the US.

'I believe in the special relationship,' he said.

Asked if he would now congratulate Mr Trump on securing the Republican nomination, the PM said he 'would congratulate anybody who could get through those marathon processes'.

They concluded: 'A UK exit from the EU would reverse the trend towards greater global trade and investment, and the jobs they create, and is a further serious risk to growth.

'Escalated geopolitical conflicts, terrorism and refugee flows, are complicating factors in the global economic environment. We have strengthened the resilience of our economies in order to avoid falling into another crisis, and to this end, commit to reinforce our efforts to address the current economic situation by taking all appropriate policy responses in a timely manner.' 

The comments highlight growing international alarm over the possibility of so-called 'Brexit', as UK voters prepare for the referendum to decide whether to leave the 28-country bloc. 

Yesterday the referendum debate was stoked by figures showing a record number of jobless EU migrants moving to Britain looking for work had pushed immigration from the European Union to an all-time high.

In a hammer blow to David Cameron, official figures showed the total number of EU nationals coming here under freedom-of-movement rules hit 270,000 last year.

This included a record 77,000 who came without the offer of a job. It also included a record number of arrivals from Romania and Bulgaria, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Net EU migration – taking into account the number of European Union citizens who left the UK – was 184,000, equivalent to a town the size of Colchester.

Overall net migration, including those from outside the EU, was 333,000 in the year to December, the second highest annual level on record.

The figures, the last to be released before the EU referendum on June 23, leave Mr Cameron's pledge to cut net migration to the 'tens of thousands' in tatters. 

 

Hammer blow for Cameron as EU migration hits record 184,000 

A record number of jobless EU migrants moving to Britain to look for work has pushed immigration from the European Union to an all-time high.

In a hammer blow to David Cameron, official figures showed the total number of EU nationals coming here under freedom-of-movement rules hit 270,000 last year.

This included a record 77,000 who came without the offer of a job. It also included a record number of arrivals from Romania and Bulgaria, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Net EU migration – taking into account the number of European Union citizens who left the UK – was 184,000, equivalent to a town the size of Colchester.

Overall net migration, including those from outside the EU, was 333,000 in the year to December, the second highest annual level on record.

The figures, the last to be released before the EU referendum on June 23, leave Mr Cameron's pledge to cut net migration to the 'tens of thousands' in tatters.

The figures released by the ONS yesterday covered the 12 months to December 

The figures released by the ONS yesterday covered the 12 months to December 

Leave campaigners said they demonstrated that the only way for Britain to regain control over its borders was to quit the EU. In a stinging attack, Boris Johnson described the figures as 'scandalous' and accused the Prime Minister of undermining democracy by promising to cut migration then failing miserably. 

The Prime Minister had promised to stop EU nationals coming here looking for work, but backed down in the face of opposition from Brussels.

Critics pointed out that his renegotiation deal will only restrict EU migrants from claiming in-work benefits and said it would do nothing to do deter more jobless workers from coming here.

When the EU was founded, citizens of other member states could move to the UK only if they had secured a job in advance. 

Now anyone from within the EU can come here to hunt for work.

Mr Johnson said the Prime Minister had been 'cynical' to promise to bring net migration down to below 100,000 while the UK was part of the EU.

He added: 'I think (the figures) show the scandal of the promise made by politicians repeatedly that they could cut immigration to the tens of thousands and then to throw their hands up in the air and say there's nothing we can do because Brussels has taken away our control of our borders.'

Mr Johnson said the Prime Minister had been 'cynical' to promise to bring net migration down to below 100,000 while the UK was part of the EU

Mr Johnson said the Prime Minister had been 'cynical' to promise to bring net migration down to below 100,000 while the UK was part of the EU