'Brain drain' fears as figures reveal far more have left UK

FEARS that the UK is in the grips of a ‘brain drain’ escalated yesterday after fresh data revealed that more than three times as many British nationals left the UK last year than officials previously thought.

- By MAURICIO ALENCAR

According to revisions made by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 257,000 Britons left the UK in 2024, over 250% more than the earlier estimate of 77,000.

The ONS changed its methods for calculating overall immigration from a collection method that relied on polling, to one that used Britons’ use of public authorities and organisations.

The statistics body had previously relied on the International Passenger Survey, but its small sample size coupled with an increase in emigration meant the method had been “stretched beyond its original purpose”.