Rishi Sunak backtracks on Tory pledge to get net migration below 250,000

RISHI Sunak last night backtracked on the Tory pledge to get net migration below 250,000.

Ministers are braced for official stats next week likely to show net arrivals hit nearly one million in 2022.

The soaring figure is bolstered by the loosening of visa rules, more foreign students and their dependants, and Ukrainian and Afghan refugees fleeing war.

While the PM has insisted he wants to bring down the number coming to the UK, he refused to reiterate his party’s promise to reduce it to below 2019 levels.

The Conservative manifesto said: “There will be fewer lower-skilled migrants and overall numbers will come down.

“And we will ensure that the British people are always in control.”

But speaking on his way to the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Mr Sunak backed away from that promise — and refused to reveal the number he would like to see.

Downing Street had previously distanced him from the vows made by ex-PM David Cameron to get numbers down to “the tens of thousands.”

But Mr Sunak did insist yesterday that Britain is “in control of why people are here . . .  making sure they contribute to public services like the NHS”.

Earlier this week, the PM said seasonal worker visas would be available for up to 55,000 pickers.

And Chancellor Jeremy Hunt yesterday told the British Chamber of Commerce he will ensure its members get the visas they need for foreign workers — risking a fresh row with Brexiteers.