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UK Urged to Conduct Emergency Census Amid Migration Surge

12/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Policy Exchange urged the UK Government to conduct an emergency census in 2026 after a 3.9 million rise since June 2021 due to migration.
The report notes that growth strains housing, public services, and community cohesion, and raises ethnic and religious segregation concerns.
Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi backs updating data to guide a census focusing on fast-growing areas such as Preston (10.2%), Leicester and Luton, which exhibit religious divides.

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Story summary

Policy Exchange urged the UK Government to conduct an emergency census in 2026 after a 3.9 million rise since June 2021 due to migration.
The report notes that growth strains housing, public services, and community cohesion, and raises ethnic and religious segregation concerns.
Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi backs updating data to guide a census focusing on fast-growing areas such as Preston (10.2%), Leicester and Luton, which exhibit religious divides.