Home Office · 6 May 200511 May 2010

Voluntary returns during the Labour 2005–2010 government

20042009 · 5 periods

734.7%+26,199 returns

Voluntary returns rose by 734.7% over the period, from 3,566 returns (2004, the level when the government took office) to 29,765 (2009, the last complete period before it left office).

  1. Inherited level 2004: 3,566
  2. Level when it left 2009: 29,765
  3. method: latest complete period before start / before end

Changes during this period do not by themselves show what the government caused. Statistics reflect many influences, including earlier decisions, the economy and how the data is collected.

Voluntary returns: 2004 to Year ending June 2026LabourLabourLabourCoalitionCoalitionConservativeConservativeConservativeConservativeLabourLabour010k20k30k200520102015202020252004: 3,566 returns · published 27 August 20262005: 7,601 returns · published 27 August 20262006: 12,599 returns · published 27 August 20262007: 20,453 returns · published 27 August 20262008: 24,356 returns · published 27 August 20262009: 29,765 returns · published 27 August 20262010: 31,762 returns · published 27 August 20262011: 30,088 returns · published 27 August 20262012: 31,002 returns · published 27 August 20262013: 31,694 returns · published 27 August 20262014: 27,815 returns · published 27 August 20262015: 30,210 returns · published 27 August 20262016: 28,474 returns · published 27 August 20262017: 20,979 returns · published 27 August 20262018: 15,702 returns · published 27 August 20262019: 12,574 returns · published 27 August 20262020: 5,009 returns · published 27 August 20262021: 7,352 returns · published 27 August 20262022: 11,014 returns · published 27 August 20262023: 20,475 returns · published 27 August 2026Year ending June 2025: 28,407 returns · published 27 August 2026Year ending June 2026: 30,936 returns · published 27 August 2026

Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestOne point a year is drawn; the source publishes overlapping year-ending figures, and every one is in the history table and CSVShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover or use arrow keys to read a value

Definition and caveats

The number of voluntary returns from the UK in a 12-month period, comprising assisted returns, controlled returns and other verified returns identified after departure.

Doesn’t measure: Enforced returns, people refused entry at port, or people who left without the Home Office identifying their departure.