RISHI Sunak appeared to blame Boris Johnson for the record levels of net migration as he declared he “inherited these very large numbers”.

But the Prime Minister vowed to do “what is necessary” to bring them back down to “sustainable levels”.

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His comments come after figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week showed net migration – the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the country – reached a record 745,000 in 2022.

This was higher than previously expected and sparked Tory calls for curbs.

During a visit to Guildford, Surrey, Mr Sunak said: “The levels of legal migration to this country are simply too high.

“I’ve inherited these very large numbers and I’m determined to do what is necessary to bring them back down to sustainable levels.”

He said the Government was examining independent advice before bringing forward measures to bring down the levels of migration, which he recognised “put unsustainable pressure on public services”.