Very striking how much of a gap has opened up between left and right in concern over immigration.
Look at the average and it’s “Britons are getting pretty concerned about immigration”.
Split by party and it becomes “Some Britons are now extremely concerned about immigration, others much less so”.
Look at the average and it’s “Britons are getting pretty concerned about immigration”.
Split by party and it becomes “Some Britons are now extremely concerned about immigration, others much less so”.
Comments
But I know what they mean when I'm asked on a survey if I'm 'concerned about migration' so I say no... 🤷🏻♀️
2/2
IIRC @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social did a much-needed analysis of number of tabloid front pages on immigration vs reported salience of immigration as a key issue.
There was a strong association...
And for those who don't want to link to the Bad Place...
https://www.ft.com/content/f2d72f42-af5f-4922-8fcb-f50a32f37afc
The issue is, for the right, it's both a means to scapegoat a group that often left its home bc of a situation created by the west as well as a way to divide and rule locals.
They leave because of personal safety, economics, civil war, political disaffection, religion.. and multiple other reasons.
The West has absolutely created or exacerbated many conflicts around the world, but it’s both straightforwardly incorrect and unhelpful to say all those are on the West.
However, when I ran my eye down this thread I hit
(i) "The majority of people seeking asylum do not arrive from countries affected by western interventions"
(ii) then my eye ran down to the supporting chart and saw "Afghanistan" in top position
Does the media shape or follow public opinion?
The UKaid budget was small in the UK budget, under 0.7% GNI at max. Cut to 0.5% of GNI, almost a third is now spent on refugee costs in the UK - by a Home Office that has had ZERO incentive not to spend to the max.
Concern among Tory voters is 90% of where it was in 2015/16 and it’s their top concern by miles (double the next highest).
Cameron had promised he'd get reforms from Brussels to reduce European immigration. He knew he couldn't get them, but he tried anyway. This raised immigration as a concern.
He also knew that by making the promise, he couldn't then present immigration in a good light.
Same with EU laws. No good defending a particular proportion of EU laws when the other side believes there should be none.
I wrote this week about what a more grown-up conversation on immigration (and integration) might look like.
Both right and left may need to acknowledge uncomfortable truths.
https://www.ft.com/content/debc2c2e-ce6b-4029-96c6-8dc8d19a0f63
https://on.ft.com/3yyczgt
I think I'll stay rude and immature over here. Both sidesers are tedious and so are genteel xenophobes/racists.
Could it be that people's concerns about immigration haven't changed much, but their voting loyalties have?
With homes. With pensions.
I took in a Ukrainian refugee and we both worked very very hard to maximise the chances of her thriving and integrating.
Now, 2 years in, she is very independent, in full time work, thinks in English and MUCH more confident.
I cannot emphasise enough that I’m not an especially good person but your reference to Michele Obama’s urging us to “DO SOMETHING” not just complain really caught in my heart.
That was the state of mind that forced me to overcome my fear of it all going wrong!
I had to DO something
But it has been quite a journey (& a good one) for both of us.
She’s now in her third year with me (which was not the original plan - altho’ I thought 6 months unrealistic).
I honestly don’t know how they manage.
What does @chrischirp.bsky.social think?
They know her & like her & want her to thrive…even though in the years before her arrival I heard some saying such things as “We are full. We can’t take any more of these people”
They will want red meat, including the exit of ECHR.
- Scotland as a whole seems much less bothered than other UK nations
- London (already densely populated with ethnic mix for decades) appears less bothered than some other regions
1. Please put alt text on all your images.
2. Labour is much less of a left wing party now, and those are far from the two only parties. Could you show the other major parties, please, such as the Lib Dems, the SNP and PC? It's important to see how xenophobia varies across the UK.
The share wanting fewer is now a majority again and is at its highest level since 2016.
* will check immigEcon/Cultural, but they're on 1/12th sample for W24)
Think of it in terms of "the Government - and the larger mass of allied partisan newspapers - swung the messaging lever to 110%, failed to reach past their elec. and didn't even move values there much.