![Britain’s population set to rise by 5 million in decade Britain’s population set to rise by 5 million in decade](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1738126129/articles/rrvgm-Mn31738137395505/BRITAINS-POPULATION-SET-TO-RISE-BY-5-MILLION-IN-DECADE.jpg)
The UK population is set to soar by nearly 5 million over the course of a decade almost entirely because of net migration, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The population is projected to reach 72.5 million by mid 2032, up from 67.6 million in mid-2022, piling more pressure on the government to curb the number of people coming to the UK.
The figures also project that the number of over-85s will double to 3.3 million over the next two decades, with campaigners warning that the social care sector is “nowhere near ready” for the demands such an increase will put on the system. It comes amid ongoing concern about the public finances, with further spending cuts expected to be on the way as rises in borrowing costs threaten chancellor Rachel Reeves’s economic plans.
Responding to the projected population growth, the Tories called for a binding legal cap on the number of visas issued each year, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp saying that the “shocking and unacceptable projection can and must be stopped from materialising”.
While Downing Street rejected Mr Philp’s call to bring in a legally binding cap, a spokesperson said the projections “underline the need to act to bring down net migration substantially”. “The prime minister doesn’t think that setting an arbitrary cap [as] previous governments have done is the way forward,” the spokesperson said. “That’s why we’re putting in place the policies that will actually deliver that.”
Denne historien er fra January 29, 2025-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra January 29, 2025-utgaven av The Independent.
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![The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/UBBtvwzBz1739775276723/THE-BRUTALIST-AND-CONCLAVE-SHARE-MAIN-SPOILS-AT-BAFTAS.jpg)
The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas
Emilia Perez controversy fails to overshadow the event
![Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/eHod1Xbr61739775564939/UKRAINE-AND-EUROPE-FACE-EXCLUSION-FROM-USLED-TALKS.jpg)
Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks
A senior White House team is heading to Saudi Arabia ahead of possible peace talks on Ukraine amid consternation that the country is being left out of negotiations over its own future.
!['Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss 'Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/v7yDKs7Mi1739775421273/CRYING-LETBY-IS-INNOCENT-CLAIMS-FORMER-NURSING-BOSS.jpg)
'Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss
A retired head of nursing at Lucy Letby's hospital has said the convicted killer is innocent, describing meetings with the nurse who \"cried in my arms\".
![Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/yyBgd_Cfg1739774842586/STARMER-PREPARED-TO-SEND-BRITISH-TROOPS-TO-UKRAINE.jpg)
Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is willing to put British troops \"in harm's way\" on the ground in Ukraine to face down Vladimir Putin's forces.
![Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/ppb9ztWwL1739775639660/ZELENSKY-TRUSTS-TRUMP-BUT-SAYS-US-MUST-HEAR-UKRAINE.jpg)
Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about his recent phone call with Donald Trump and his stance on a possible peace agreement with Russia during an interview on US television yesterday.
!['Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed' 'Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/zqNPAG5281739775715367/SOMETHING-IS-DESTROYED-INSIDE-PALESTINIANS-AND-IM-NOT-SURE-IF-IT-CAN-BE-HEALED.jpg)
'Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed'
Amani Ahmed left Gaza as war broke out and was apart from family for months. She tells Alex Croft about life in the UK
!['I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone' 'I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/_xyHAX6YL1739775030381/IVE-SPENT-HALF-MY-LIFE-IN-PRISON-FOR-STEALING-A-PHONE.jpg)
'I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone'
Leroy Douglas begs for freedom, describing his indefinite term as 'cripplingly cruel' as he nears 20 years behind bars
![FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/9jew7rRZh1739775502116/FBI-TO-HELP-FIND-SOUTHPORT-MURDERERS-SEARCH-HISTORY.jpg)
FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history
The FBI and US Department of Justice have agreed to help UK police investigate Southport killer Axel Rudakubana.
!['Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing' 'Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/cFI3W9ADR1739776253547/MOURINHO-WOULD-FACETIME-ME-TO-ASK-WHAT-IM-DOING.jpg)
'Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing'
Former Man United star Jesse Lingard tells Miguel Delaney about leaving his boyhood club, ‘what might have been’ with England, and how life at FC Seoul has revitalised his career
![Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/UnoFye29g1739776042823/SPURS-EDGE-UNITED-IN-TRULY-LOWQUALITY-MIDTABLE-CLASH.jpg)
Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash
Towards the end of Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, with the game still in the balance, both Brennan Johnson and Patrick Dorgu lost theirs.