Although Tories claim curbing net inflow of migrants is critical issue for voters, poll shows attitudes have evolved significantly
Most British people hold positive view of immigration, survey reveals
Submitted 11 months ago by theinspectorst@kbin.social to unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
autotldr@lemmings.world [bot] 11 months ago
This is the best summary I could come up with:
A majority of the British public now hold positive views about the impact of immigration on the UK, despite intense political rhetoric surrounding the issue, according to an academic survey.
The European Social Survey, which has sampled attitudes every two years since 2001, said British views on immigration and its economic and cultural impact had undergone “a complete about-turn” over the past two decades, becoming significantly more favourable after 2016.
The survey asked people to rank out of 10 whether immigration was bad or good for the economy, whether cultural life was undermined or enriched, and whether it made the country a better or worse place to live, with 10 being the most positive.
Although the government has pledged to reduce immigration, and MPs regularly claim curbing the net inflow of migrants is a critical issue for UK voters, the survey suggests public attitudes have evolved significantly in recent years and are far more positive than politicians assume.
“It seems like the issue of immigration is likely to remain on the front pages for some time and could well become a key battleground at the next general election,” said Alun Humphrey, of the National Centre for Social Research, who helped coordinate the survey.
In 2002 fewer than one in 10 respondents believed the UK should admit “many” immigrants of a “different race or ethnic group to the majority”; by 2022 this had increased to more than a third (34%).
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