Immigration & Crime Now the Most Important Issues for Britons, New Polls Show

For the first time since 2016, immigration has become the most important issue for Britons, according to a recent poll conducted by Ipsos.

This shift in public concern follows a series of riots earlier this month that targeted Muslims and migrants.

The poll, released on Friday, revealed that just over a third of respondents (34%) identified immigration as the top issue facing the country, surpassing other significant concerns such as healthcare (30%), the economy (29%), crime (25%), and inflation (20%).

Additionally, 11% of those surveyed cited race relations as their primary concern.

The resurgence of immigration as a leading issue in Britain coincides with record levels of net migration. In 2022, the difference between the number of people moving to the country and those leaving reached an all-time high of 764,000.

Although this figure slightly decreased to 685,000 the following year, public anxiety about immigration has notably increased. The recent unrest, which saw anti-immigration protesters targeting hotels accommodating asylum-seekers and attacking mosques in various towns and cities, appears to have amplified these concerns.

Ipsos researcher Mike Clemence highlighted the connection between the riots and the shift in public opinion. “The impact of the recent riots across the UK is clear in this month’s data,” Clemence said.

He also noted that the level of concern about crime and race relations has surged to recent highs, reflecting the broader societal impact of the unrest.

The riots, which led to several arrests and swift sentencing of offenders, have since subsided. In response to the violence, many people participated in anti-racism rallies, signaling a pushback against the sentiments driving the unrest.

Despite the efforts to counteract the hostility, the events of this month have evidently left a lasting impression on the public, influencing the prioritization of immigration as a national issue.

The findings from the Ipsos poll align with a similar survey conducted by YouGov, which also reported that immigration had emerged as the top issue for Britons for the first time since 2016.

That year, concerns about immigration played a significant role in the referendum that resulted in Britain voting to leave the European Union. The latest Ipsos poll was conducted between August 7th and 13th, surveying 1,010 adults, while YouGov’s poll, conducted from August 5th to 6th, included responses from 2,163 adults.

The convergence of results from both polls underscores the growing significance of immigration in the public consciousness, marking a return to the prominence it held during the Brexit referendum.

The recent surge in attention to immigration, coupled with heightened concerns about crime and race relations, suggests a shift in the national mood, driven by recent events and long-standing anxieties about the impact of immigration on British society.

As Britain continues to grapple with the complexities of immigration, these polling results indicate that the issue is likely to remain at the forefront of political and public discourse.

The combination of record net migration figures, the social tensions exposed by the recent riots, and the echoes of the Brexit debate have all contributed to making immigration the most pressing concern for a significant portion of the British population.

This renewed focus on immigration will likely shape policy discussions and influence the priorities of political leaders in the coming months.