One million migrants a year “will soon be the norm” as figures showed a year-on-year increase of 435,000

The current immigration rate of more than a million a year could become the ‘norm’ for Britain, a think tank warned last night.

Official migration figures released last month showed 1.1 million non-nationals living in Britain long-term – up 435,000 from a year earlier.

Now, a report by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) states that similar levels will be observed “over the medium to long term.” The think tank called on ministers to put in place measures to ensure the arrivals serve the UK economy and job market.

Steps should also be taken to reassure the UK workforce that they will not be “replaced” by foreign workers, the report added.

A teenager has been charged in connection with last week’s tragedy that left four migrants dead when a rubber dinghy emptied in the English Channel. The current immigration rate of more than a million a year could become the ‘norm’ for Britain, a think tank warned last night

“The current high levels of migration may be the norm rather than the exception,” says the study by SMF Senior Fellow Jonathan Thomas. “Both supply and demand side factors mean that the UK’s future migration trend could result in historically high inflows in the medium to long term.

“On the demand side, skills and labor shortages may be exacerbated by an aging resident population.

“On the supply side, Britain’s historical links with populous nations will likely result in a significant number of working-age people being willing and able to come to Britain.” The report suggested that the UK should explore “skill partnerships” with migrants’ home countries to ensure they meet employment requirements here.

“The case for labor migration … needs to be presented clearly as a complement to and not a substitute for what the UK has at its disposal,” said the author. Mr Thomas also called for the international refugee system to “break the link between where the asylum application is made and the country where the refugee then settles”.

Tackling the small boat crisis in the English Channel will likely mean Britain having to take in more refugees from France and other EU nations, he added.

“The UK should accept that France is under no obligation to help Britain, especially if France is hosting larger numbers of refugees.”

Of the 1.1 million foreigners who came here up to June, 704,000 were non-EU citizens, 379,000 more than a year earlier. An estimated 560,000 people emigrated from Britain in the same period.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she would expect lower immigration overall under Labour.

Speaking on BBC1’s Sunday program with Laura Kuenssberg, she added that the numbers are now “at unusually high levels” due to migrants from Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan.