Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has launched a scathing attack on the Government over migration projections, labelling parliamentary colleagues as “lunatics” who are disconnected from reality.
Speaking to GB News, Anderson claimed migration has “spiralled out of control”, starting under “Blair’s leadership” and “worsening under Conservative governments”.
The MP argued that while migration contributes to economic growth, it has made the country “less productive”.
“I was always taught, even in basic economics at school, the way you become more productive in this country is to do more with less people,” Anderson said.
Lee Anderson has hit out at the latest migration figures after ONS data predicted a population boom of five million
GB News
He insisted current migration policies are making British citizens poorer, with nobody having voted for such dramatic increases.
“Nobody in this country voted for it, it’s making us all poorer,” Anderson told GB News.
The Reform UK politician expressed particular concern about what he views as low-value economic activities proliferating across the country.
“We see nail bars opening, barber shops opening, you see all these fast food places, we see Deliveroo drivers,” he said, adding that such businesses are “taking far more out than they’re actually paying in”.
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New data from the Office for National Statistics reveals the UK population is set to surge by almost five million over the next seven years.
The ONS projects the total population will reach 72.5 million by mid-2032, marking a significant increase from 67.6 million in mid-2022.
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Anderson painted a stark picture of what he sees as Parliament’s disconnect from everyday challenges faced by the public.
“These lunatics over here that work in Parliament, I sit with them. I’ve been there this morning,” he told GB News.
He argued that parliamentarians are shielded from the real-world problems affecting ordinary citizens.
“They’re not queuing up for a doctor’s appointment, they don’t have to pull their own teeth out, they’re not queuing up for a council house,” Anderson said.
Anderson told GB News that Labour should ‘hang their heads in shame’ at the latest migration figures
GB News
The Reform UK MP highlighted the disparity in education access, noting that many parliamentarians “probably go to a private school” while others worry about their children’s school placements.
“It’s absolutely disgusting. We’re letting the country down and that place should hang its head in shame,” he declared.
Anderson insisted the current situation is “an absolute nonsense,” suggesting a fundamental disconnect between policymakers and the public they serve.
ONS head of population and household projections James Robards said: “The UK population is projected to grow by almost five million over the next decade.”
“The driver of this growth is migration, with natural change – the difference between births and deaths – projected to be around zero,” he added.