# Andy Burnham’s rejoiner dream dealt major blow as official figures lay bare Britain’s EU migration legacy

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/andy-burnhams-rejoiner-dream-dealt-major-blow-as-official-figures-lay-bare-britains-eu-migration-legacy/
- Published: 2026-11-05T00:01:03+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T00:34:09+00:00
- Original publisher: GB News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.gbnews.com/membership/migrant-crisis-andy-burnham-britain-eu-migration-legacy
- Topics: Europe, Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- EU citizens accounted for two-thirds of net migration over 25 years.
- More than 6.1 million EU Settlement Scheme applications were approved.
- The figures have fuelled debate over freedom of movement and rejoining the EU.

## Summary

A study of Home Office data says EU nationals made up two-thirds of net migration to Britain over the past 25 years, renewing debate about calls to rejoin the EU and restore freedom of movement. The figures are being cited by critics who argue that rejoining would limit the UK’s control over immigration policy.

More than 6.1 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme have been approved since 2000, compared with 2.6 million people arriving from outside the bloc, according to the research. Britain’s population grew by nearly 10.6 million, or 18 per cent, between 2000 and 2025, with EU migration accounting for more than half of the increase. Romania recorded the most approved settlement applications by the June 2021 deadline, with 1,424,187; Poland and Italy were next, though the supplied article text cuts off before giving their totals.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.