Public Sentiment on Immigration in the UK
The British public’s perceptions of immigration are now more negative than they were during the Brexit referendum back in 2016, which aimed to give Britain more control over its borders.
A recent YouGov survey, which followed up on a similar poll from August 2016, indicated that a significant number of Britons view immigration as “mostly bad” for the UK—43% now compared to 33% ten years ago. In contrast, only 21% believe immigration has overall positive effects in recent months, while 29% feel it’s a mix of good and bad.
Interestingly, the percentage of people who think there are too many immigrants has remained relatively stable over the past decade. In 2016, 70% agreed, while in 2026, that figure is slightly down to 69%. However, the belief that immigration levels are “too high” has increased, with 47% of British voters expressing this view now, compared to 44% a decade ago.
The poll revealed that both Brexit supporters and those who voted to remain largely agree that immigration levels are excessive. Yet, there’s a considerable gap in opinion; 93% of Leave voters think there are too many immigrants, while just 53% of Remain voters feel the same.
When analyzing the recent 2024 general election results by party affiliation, those backing Nigel Farage’s Reform Britain party overwhelmingly feel immigration levels are too high at 98%. Conservative voters follow with 90%. Supporters of the left-wing Labour party (53%) and the Liberal Democrats (56%) also express majority views against current immigration levels, but far-left Green Party supporters show a notable divergence, as only 40% agree with the sentiment.
Furthermore, the survey found that the British public does not perceive all immigrant groups in the same light. Immigrants from Anglosphere countries, for instance, are viewed most positively, with 69% approval for those from Ireland and 68% for both Australia and Canada.
This is in contrast to perceptions of immigrants from other regions. British citizens expressed that 58% want to see less or no immigration from Russia, 52% from Pakistan, and 48% from Nigeria.
In terms of expected qualifications for future immigrants, criminal histories stand out as a top concern for British citizens. A substantial 94% agree that violent or serious criminal records should play a significant role in decisions about admitting economic migrants to the UK. Other important factors include the level of education (76%), previous work intentions (76%), and whether they plan to bring family (73%). Public opinion also suggests considering the immigrant’s wealth (60%), age (56%), and IQ (54%).
