Net migration has hit a record high of 606,000, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The surge has been fuelled by a continued sharp rise of more than 1.2 million migrants granted visas primarily from outside the EU to enter the UK to study, work or escape conflict or oppression. The ONS estimated that 557,000 people emigrated.

The resulting 606,000 for the year ending December 2022 is nearly three times the pre-Brexit average of between 200,000 and 250,000.

It also blows apart the Government’s 2019 manifesto pledge to bring down the overall rate of net migration from its then level of 245,000.

It is similar to the net migration figure for the year ending June 2022 after the ONS revised its estimates. Whereas it had previously been reported as 504,000, it said an “improvement in methods” meant that the figure was actually also 606,000, the same as the number for year ending December 2022.

Ministers attempted to pre-empt the figures on Tuesday with a crackdown on foreign students, which Rishi Sunak claimed was the “biggest ever single measure” to reduce it. 

It will bar most foreign students from bringing in dependants or switching to work visas before completing their studies.

The figure is lower than expected, with ministers fearful this week that it could hit between 700,000 and 800,000 - and even one million.