A recent warning has been issued to Keir Starmer regarding the public perception of migration trends. Despite a significant decline in net migration levels, continuous “crisis messaging” has led most voters to believe that migration is on the rise. New data set to be released today is anticipated to show that net migration has dropped to pre-Brexit levels. However, experts caution that the prevailing narrative risks reinforcing the notion that immigration is spiraling “out of control.”
According to a survey by Ipsos/British Future Immigration Attitudes Tracker, 56% of the public mistakenly believes that net migration increased last year. In reality, the figures for 2024 indicate a more than 50% decrease, from 848,000 to 345,000, after peaking at 944,000 in 2023.
Sunder Katwala, the director of the British Future think tank, emphasized the need for an updated political discourse as migration numbers approach pre-Brexit norms. He highlighted the risk of perpetuating the public’s belief in uncontrolled immigration due to continuous crisis-focused messaging.
The study also revealed misconceptions about asylum proportions, with most individuals overestimating its contribution to overall immigration. While many hold balanced views on immigration, there has been a rise in the percentage of people who see no benefits in immigration. Additionally, the report found varying preferences regarding maintaining, decreasing, or increasing immigration numbers.
Amid these findings, there is a call for a more transparent debate on immigration management, benefits, and societal pressures. Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK Politics at Ipsos, noted the increasing public concern about immigration, particularly in light of government responses to issues like Channel crossings and asylum numbers.
The report recommends scaling up the UK-France asylum deal to handle Channel crossings, phasing out asylum hotels by next year, expediting decision-making processes, and establishing reliable settlement pathways. It stresses the importance of acknowledging legitimate concerns about immigration while combatting prejudice.