London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday defended immigrants, asserting that they contribute more to the UK economy than British citizens and that the narrative of labelling them “sponges or skivers” cannot fly.

Mr Khan countered UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who, on Monday, announced stricter rules to curb net migration and “take back control of our borders.”

Net migration is the difference between the number of immigrants and the number of people leaving a nation, which is a key indicator of whether a region was gaining or declining in population. Net migration post-COVID-19 reached record highs, with foreigners trooping to the UK while only a fraction emigrated. The figures stood at 906,000 in June 2023 and 728,000 in June 2024.

Mr Starmer decried the rate, saying the Birmingham population alone was one million, equivalent to the 2023 net migration rate, hence his need to tighten immigration policies.

However, the London mayor said Mr Starmer’s words did not reflect that skilled migrants also contributed massively to improving the UK economy in a manner that British citizens cannot match.

“I recognise every day the massive contribution the successive wave of migrants has made to our city economically, socially and culturally,” said Mr Khan, a child of Pakistani parents. “I want to thank those who are migrants for what they do for our great city.”

The London mayor added, “I am the son of immigrants…and I can say from my own personal experience… that I am very proud of being a Londoner and a Brit.”

He argued that while skilled migrants spend significantly higher funds to live and access public services in the UK, Britons pay lower amounts for the same public services.

“A skilled migrant will contribute on average £16,000 a year towards our economy, and that’s when you include the public services he or she may use. Compare that to a British skilled worker £800 minus public service they use,” the London mayor argued.

He made another comparison between the family members of a skilled migrant’s family and those of a Briton.

“A skilled migrant’s family will contribute to the British economy £12,000 a year even when you take away the public services they use,” Mr Khan said. “A British skilled worker’s family takes from the economy £4,400 when you include the public services they use.”

“So the idea that skilled migrants are sponges or skivers is just isn’t the case,” said the London mayor. 

International students in the UK often pay nearly twice or sometimes triple the tuition fees of domestic students.

Even though Nigeria was colonised by the British and was granted independence in 1960, some UK schools still require International English Language Tests (IELTS) that cost over $170 to confirm their eligibility for admission.

Mr Starmer has vowed to toughen the English tests for intending immigrants.