All is nevertheless relative, and even an annual fall of say 300,000 from last year’s level of 685,000 would still leave net migration somewhat higher than it was immediately before the referendum eight years ago.
Go back to 1997, the year Tony Blair became prime minister, and net immigration was just 48,000. Since then, the country has changed beyond recognition, with population growth of more than eight million, nearly all of it migrants.
Labour ignores this influx at its peril. Look across the Channel, and you immediately see the consequences of failure to act. All over the shop, the political centre ground is either collapsing or has already done so.
With explosive population growth in Africa and beyond, the pressures at our borders are set to only get worse. The country’s ability to absorb such numbers has meanwhile already been stretched close to breaking point.
The great irony is that in order to maintain the “progressive” politics it champions, Labour will need to hold its nose and become less tolerant on immigration.
It almost beggars belief that business is still recruiting from abroad in a country where nearly 11 million people of working age are not in any form of employment.
If only a third of such people were available for work, it would surely be enough to satisfy the demand from employers.
And yet many companies have become addicted to the cheap labour they can get from overseas for jobs that the locals won’t do, and squeal loudly whenever ministers threaten to cut off the supply.
Society cannot have it both ways. It cannot meet Nigel Farage’s target of “zero” net immigration while simultaneously carrying on with support for the millions who for one reason or another cannot or will not work. If we did, we would immediately have a contracting economy unable to provide the public services it already struggles with.
Solutions lie as much with measures to address “workshy” Britain as they do with better controlling our borders. On that, the two main parties have finally seen sense, even if the remedies they propose look half hearted and unconvincing.
As it is, we remain very much part of the wider European disease on migration. If Labour doesn’t get a grip, there are other forces waiting in the wings only too happy to give it a go.