The local MP of Old Bexley and Sidcup, James Brokenshire, has admitted that the recent figures for UK net migration WERE, "deeply disappointing."

David Cameron's aim of cutting net migration to below 100,000 has been dealt a devastating blow as official data confirmed the number has jumped again, reaching a record high, three times higher than the government’s target.

Acting in his role as Immigration Minister, Mr Brokenshire said: "These stark figures are deeply disappointing.

"While these figures underline the challenges we need to meet to reduce net migration, they should also act as a further wake-up call for the EU.

"Current flows of people across Europe are on a scale we haven't seen since the end of the Second World War."

Estimated net migration to Britain is measured by the difference between the number of people entering and leaving the country that amounted to 330,000 from January to March.

Mr Brokenshire said: "This is not sustainable and risks the future economic development of other EU member states. It reinforces the need for further reform at an EU level as well as within the UK." He added that there was "much more to do."

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The current results by the ONS show that Polish migrants are the most common non-British nationality in the country, with an estimated 853,000 people from the country living in Britain.

In total, net migration has risen to fifth consecutive quarterly rise in the index, driven by a record 269,000 EU citizens arriving in Britain - an increase of a quarter compared to the previous year.

The Government insisted it is taking action to control immigration and claimed the figures should act as a "wake up call" for the EU amid an unprecedented surge of people arriving on the continent.