Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has apologised for the Tories’ failure to deliver on their net migration pledges after official numbers revealed a new record high. 

Sir Jacob, a former Cabinet minister, told GB News: “First of all an apology. Along with many other Tory MPs, I stood in 2010 on a manifesto to cut migration to the tens of thousands. We have failed, and it is now cumulatively in the millions.”

The Office for National Statistics revealed yesterday that net migration hit a new peak of 745,000 in the year to December 2022. 

The numbers prompted calls from Tory MPs for Rishi Sunak to take immediate action to curb legal migration levels while Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, said the figures were a “slap in the face” to the British public.

The Tories pledged throughout the 2010s to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands. That pledge was then replaced at the 2019 general election with a promise that “overall numbers will come down”. 

Downing Street said the numbers are “far too high” and indicated further measures will be brought forward to address the issue.

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