Keir Starmer has accused the last Tory government of running a “one nation experiment in open borders” that sent immigration numbers soaring.

The prime minister made his comments after official figures revealed net migration – the difference between those leaving and entering the UK – soared above 900,000 in the year to June 2023.

Speaking at a press conference in 10 Downing Street, the PM said that had happened “by design not accident” under the Conservatives.

He said: “Time and again the Conservative Party promised they would get the numbers down. Time and again they failed, and now the chorus of excuses has begun.”

Starmer added: “A failure on this scale isn’t just bad luck, it isn’t a global trend or taking your eye off the ball. No, this is a different order of failure.

“This happened by design not accident. Policies were reformed deliberately to liberalise immigration. Brexit was used for that purpose to turn Britain into a one nation experiment in open borders.”

The prime minister said that Labour would get to grips with the problem and bring immigration numbers down.

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