LONDON (Reuters) -Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed on Thursday to reduce the number of migrants coming to Britain, saying he would produce a plan for reform of the points-based immigration system that would put the onus on businesses to train British workers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised to cut net migration after the latest data showed the number of people arriving in the UK remained historically high despite curbs introduced by the last Conservative government.

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.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday put net migration at more than 900,000 in the year to June 2023, numbers Starmer blamed on the previous Conservative government.

Official data shows net migration into Britain at a record 900,000 in the year to June 2023, much higher than original estimates.