Immigration tops Britons’ concerns as public divided on whether it is acceptable to protest outside asylum hotels

The August 2025 Ipsos Issues Index reveals that immigration remains the biggest issue facing the country this month, in the eyes of the public. Concern has risen eight points since July, with 48% naming it as an important issue.

Among growing concern about immigration, another new Ipsos poll reveals that two in five (42%) Britons believe the current Labour government is doing a worse job of managing immigration than the previous Conservative administration. This finding points to significant and growing public dissatisfaction, with the figure having risen from 33% in April 2025 (though there has also been a rise in those who think Labour is doing a better job than the Conservatives, from 17% to 23%).

Key findings: 

• Immigration continues to be seen as the top issue facing Britain: Nearly half (48%) name immigration as an important issue facing Britain, up 8 points since July.  Concern continues to be highest among Reform UK supporters (84%), older people aged 55+ and Conservative supporters (both 59%), compared with 33% of Labour supporters and 34% of 18-34 yr olds. However, the highest increases in concern this month can be seen among Labour supporters (+17 percentage points since July) and Conservative supporters (+12 points).  
• The economy and NHS make up the rest of top 3 issues this month, mentioned by 33% (+3 ppts since July) and 22% (-8 ppts) respectively.

• Growing dissatisfaction with government performance on immigration: Two in five (42%) Britons say that the current Labour government is doing a worse job at managing immigration than the previous Conservative government, up from one in three (33%) in April 2025.  There has though also been a rise in those saying Labour is doing a better job (up from 17% to 23%), and a fall in those thinking there is no difference (down from 40% to 27%).
• Widespread perception of increasing numbers: Two in three Britons (68%) believe the number of people arriving in the UK on small boats has increased over the last 12 months, with 62% saying they think the number of asylum applications has increased. Also 62% say the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels across the UK has increased, while just under half (46%) believe the number of asylum seekers housed in their local area has increased.
• Local tensions: Three in ten (31%) Britons feel their local area is housing more than its fair share of asylum seekers, with another three in ten (29%) saying it is about right, and few (8%) saying less than its fair share. A substantial minority (32%) say they do not know. Those who voted Reform UK at the 2024 General Election are most likely to say their area is housing more than its fair share (61%).

• Divisions on protest: The public is divided on the acceptability of protesting outside hotels housing asylum seekers (36% acceptable vs. 39% unacceptable). When it comes to policing these protests, two in five (40%) say police should prioritise both asylum seekers’ safety and people’s right to protest peacefully equally, with a third (34%) saying they should prioritise the right to protest.  Most Reform UK voters (70%) believe the police’s main priority should be the right to protest, compared to just 27% of Labour voters.

Commenting on the findings, Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK politics at Ipsos said:

These results present a significant political challenge for the Labour government on immigration and asylum. Concern with immigration is rising and at the top of the public’s agenda, helping to fuel support for Reform but also rising in importance for Labour supporters too. But on this key issue, public confidence in  the government’s ability to reduce small boat crossings and restore order to the asylum system is low.  Concern about immigration and dissatisfaction with the government is not new – it was there under the Conservatives too – but Labour is not convincing enough voters that it is doing a better job now that they are in power.

As councils across the country are considering legal action to remove asylum seekers from hotels in their areas, nearly half of Britons believe numbers are rising in their local area too.  Britons are split on whether there local area is having to do too much or is housing its fair share, but belief that local pressures are too high doubles among Reform voters. Yet attitudes towards protests happening outside asylum hotels are split, and many also have asylum seekers’ safety in mind as the police are expected to prioritise both their safety and people’s right to protest peacefully in equal measure.

Technical note: 

• Results are based on two nearly released surveys:
• Ipsos' Issues Index is the longest-running gauge of British public concerns. It is conducted monthly and has provided an overview of the key issues concerning the country for over 50 years. The answers are spontaneous responses, and participants are not prompted.  Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,008 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Ipsos’ telephone omnibus was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted between 6 – 12th August 2025.
• A second poll was conducted online with a sample of 1,100 adults aged 16-75 across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between the 8th-11th August 2025.   
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.