Immigration

Ipsos Economic Optimism Index worsens to -56, with 68% expecting the economy to get worse over the next 12 months. Immigration remains the biggest issue facing the country, mentioned by 40%.

Our Managing Director, Public Affairs Trinh Tu reflects on why refugees seek belonging using the findings of this year's World Refugee Day survey.

The Government should take this opportunity to reconsider the role of immigration in addressing labour market demands through the implementation of its Immigration White Paper.

Almost half of Britons see immigration as one of the biggest issues for the country, the highest score since June 2016.

Reform UK enjoys the highest level of trust on having the right immigration policies (37%), handling migrant crossings of the English Channel (39%), and making illegal entry more difficult (42%). Conservatives are the least trusted party on these issues.

Labour's immigration white paper is clearly a response to growing public concern. But shifting public opinion on such a complex and emotive issue isn't easy, especially when public opinion has so many - often contradictory - aspects.

Two in three (67%) Britons believe the total number of people entering the UK is too high, with 43% stating it is "much too high."

Four in ten (39%) see the economy as one of the biggest issues for the country, up five points since March.

Thirty-nine per cent name the economy as an important issue for Britain this month, an increase of 3 percentage points over the month and 10 points since September.

Public concern about immigration and the NHS has fallen somewhat from October but they remain the second- and third-biggest issues.