Perceptions and reality: Ten things we should know about attitudes to immigration in the UK

Figures released on 27 November 2014 showed that net migration to the UK in the year to June 2014 had risen to 260,000 people. With David Cameron having previously announced a goal of cutting net migration to below 100,000 per year by the time of the 2015 general election, the figures have once again pushed the issue of immigration to the centre of the UK’s political agenda, but what do the British public really think about immigration?

Bobby Duffy highlights ten significant findings based on Ipsos MORI polling on the subject. He writes that the data shows there are deep concerns about immigration across large parts of the British population, but that the picture is far more nuanced than commonly recognised.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Prime Minister's speech on proposals to restrict benefits to EU migrants, 27 November 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/david-cameron-prime-ministers-speech-on-immigration-28-november-2014/

ESO: Background information: Net migration to UK rises to 260,000 in year to June http://www.europeansources.info/record/net-migration-to-uk-rises-to-260000-in-year-to-june/

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