Attitudes to immigration
Britons’ priorities for government action in response to the lifting of restrictions on the movement of EU citizens from Romania and Bulgaria are to restrict the benefits they can claim and enforce the minimum wage, according to an Ipsos poll for British Future.
Six in ten (63%) say they would most support the British Government restricting the benefits that people from other European Union countries can claim, in response to people from Romania and Bulgaria coming to live and work in the UK. Just under half, 45%, say the minimum wage should be enforced so businesses cannot undercut British workers by paying European workers less.
Around a quarter each would support leaving the EU if it does not change its rules (26%), staying in the EU but trying to change the rules of membership (24%), and managing the impact of immigration within the UK by, for example, giving more support to areas with more immigration (22%).
As far as what EU migrants should do to be accepted into British society, the three things that British people say are most important are for them to learn the English language (69%), get a job and pay taxes (64%), and not claim any benefits (48%).
When asked whether they agree or disagree with the statement,
“Romanians and Bulgarians coming to Britain have got to learn the language, work hard and pay taxes, fit in and be part of the community. If they do that, we should welcome them to the UK”,
two in three (68%) agree, while 13% disagree.
Technical note:
Ipsos interviewed 2,244 British online adults aged 16-75, 6-11 December 2013. Interviews were conducted using the Ipsos online panel. Data are weighted to the profile of the population.
