The proportion of British voters who believe immigration has been 'mostly bad' for the UK has increased by nearly a third over the past decade, according to a recent YouGov poll. More than four in ten Britons (43 percent) now hold this view, a notable rise from 33 percent ten years ago. Concurrently, only one in five voters consider migration to be 'mostly good' for the country.
The poll, conducted for The Times newspaper, indicates a hardening of attitudes even among those who voted to remain in the European Union during the 2016 referendum. Among these voters, the percentage viewing migration negatively has climbed from 12 percent to 22 percent.
This shift in public opinion occurs amidst concerns over the UK's ability to control its borders, with over 200,000 small boat migrants having arrived in recent years, the poll suggests. The survey also explored voter preferences regarding the origin of migrants.
More than a fifth of respondents stated that no migrants from Nigeria should be allowed into the UK, while a quarter supported a complete ban on Pakistani nationals. Similar sentiments were expressed regarding migration from Israel, with 24 percent advocating for a ban, and 34 percent supporting a ban on migrants from Russia. Green party voters, typically less inclined to favor reduced migration, showed a comparatively hardline stance on migration from Israel, aligning closely with Reform voters on this issue.
Matthew Smith of YouGov noted a significant change in public perception, stating, "We found a ten-point increase in the number saying it has been mostly bad (to 43 percent) and a nine-point reduction in the number deeming it ‘both good and bad’ (to 29 percent), meaning the negative view of immigration has supplanted the balanced view as the most commonly held among the wider public."