International

UK public concerns about immigration appear largely driven by rhetoric, poll suggests

Friday, 31 October 2025 5:02AM UTC

A recent YouGov poll indicates that worries about immigration in the UK may be exaggerated by political discourse and media portrayals, with local communities less concerned than national narratives suggest.

A recent YouGov poll suggests that concerns about immigration in the UK may be largely "manufactured," driven more by political rhetoric and media portrayal than by actual local experience, according to campaigners. The survey, commissioned by the campaign group Best for Britain, revealed that just 26% of respondents regarded immigration and asylum as one of the three most important issues facing their local community. This contrasts sharply with the 52% who identified immigration as a significant national issue. Locally, immigration ranked seventh among key concerns, trailing behind cost of living, health, crime, housing, and jobs.

Saeema Syeda from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) interpreted the poll findings as proof that there is no immigration crisis. She argued that the immigration panic has been "manufactured" to deflect attention from more pressing issues such as the cost of living and access to healthcare, education, and housing. Syeda emphasised the need to end scapegoating and focus on shared community priorities.

The poll found that the cost of living remains the leading concern both nationally and locally, reflecting deep public anxiety about economic pressures. Among Labour voters, 56% cited the cost of living as a major national issue, with 39% naming the economy, compared to 34% highlighting immigration, indicating that economic concerns overshadow immigration in this key voter demographic.

Tom Brufatto of Best for Britain observed that the data reveals how media narratives and political discourse are amplifying anti-immigration sentiment, causing the government to lose support across the political spectrum. He suggested that addressing economic challenges, including improving trade relations with the European Union to mitigate Brexit's economic impact, could help alleviate broader societal discontent.

This poll's insights contrast somewhat with other recent surveys highlighting immigration as a top public concern on a national scale. For instance, a YouGov poll conducted for Sky News reported 58% of respondents identifying immigration as a leading national issue for the first time since Brexit, with 70% believing immigration levels are too high. Similarly, an August 2025 Ipsos Issues Index found that 48% of Britons saw immigration as a primary concern, and 31% felt their local areas were accommodating more asylum seekers than fair.

Discrepancies between these polls may reflect differing question framing, timing, or demographics, and highlight a nuanced public sentiment where immigration is a significant national topic but less so in immediate daily local concerns. Ipsos data also show divided public opinion on protests against asylum seekers, indicating complex and varied attitudes at the community level.

Internationally, the UK's heightened anxiety about immigration aligns with trends identified by a global Ipsos poll that identified Britons as the most worried about immigration among 25 surveyed countries. Conversely, in the United States, Gallup data suggest a recent decline in immigration concern, with increased numbers viewing immigration positively.

In summary, while immigration remains a prominent issue in UK public discourse, data indicate that local experiences may not match the intensity of national concern. Campaign groups argue this gap results from political and media emphasis rather than lived realities, calling for policy focus to return to core economic and social challenges affecting communities directly.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Irish News), ^[2] (Irish News)
Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (Irish News)
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] (Irish News)
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (Irish News)
Paragraph 5 – ^[1] (Irish News)
Paragraph 6 – ^[3] (Sky News), ^[4] (Ipsos)
Paragraph 7 – ^[4] (Ipsos), ^[5] (Ipsos)
Paragraph 8 – ^[6] (Gallup)
Paragraph 9 – ^[1] (Irish News), ^[3] (Sky News), ^[4] (Ipsos)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/polling-shows-immigration-concern-manufactured-say-campaigners-GHIC5QNOHZMXBD3MKEIFM6V53Y/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/polling-shows-immigration-concern-manufactured-say-campaigners-GHIC5QNOHZMXBD3MKEIFM6V53Y/ - A YouGov poll revealed that only 26% of people consider immigration and asylum as one of the three most important local issues, suggesting that concerns about immigration are 'manufactured' by politicians and parts of the media. The poll, commissioned by Best for Britain, also found that the cost of living was the top issue both nationally and locally, with immigration ranking seventh among local problems. Saeema Syeda of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants stated that the data demonstrates there is no immigration crisis.
https://news.sky.com/story/immigration-becomes-publics-top-issue-for-first-time-since-brexit-13427783 - A YouGov poll for Sky News indicates that immigration and asylum have become the public's top concern, overtaking the economy for the first time since Brexit. The survey found that 58% of respondents identified immigration as one of the three most pressing issues facing the country, with 70% believing that immigration levels are too high. The poll also revealed that 50% of respondents think immigration has a negative impact on the UK.
https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/immigration-tops-britons-concerns-public-divided-whether-it-acceptable-protest-outside-asylum - An Ipsos Issues Index poll from August 2025 shows that immigration remains the top concern for Britons, with 48% naming it as an important issue. The survey also found that 31% of respondents believe their local area is housing more than its fair share of asylum seekers. Public opinion is divided on the acceptability of protesting outside hotels housing asylum seekers, with 36% finding it acceptable and 39% unacceptable.
https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/new-global-poll-finds-britons-most-worried-about-immigration - A global poll by Ipsos reveals that immigration is the number one worry for Britons, with 42% expressing concern. This is the highest level of worry about immigration among the 25 countries surveyed. The poll also found that 28% of British people are concerned about the rise of extremism, the highest among the countries included in the study.
https://www.gallup.com/poll/692522/surge-concern-immigration-abated.aspx - A Gallup poll indicates that Americans' concern about immigration has decreased, with only 30% wanting immigration reduced, down from 55% a year ago. Additionally, a record-high 79% of U.S. adults say immigration is a good thing for the country. These shifts reflect changes across all major party groups and reverse a four-year trend of rising concern about immigration.
https://www.gallup.com/poll/470426/americans-showing-increased-concern-immigration.aspx - A Gallup poll shows that Americans' satisfaction with the level of immigration into the U.S. has fallen six percentage points over the past year, from 34% in January 2022 to 28% today. This is the lowest reading in a decade, though not the least satisfied Americans have been on this issue over the past 23 years. The poll also indicates that 40% of Americans are dissatisfied because they want less immigration.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative is based on a recent YouGov poll commissioned by Best for Britain, published on October 31, 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is October 31, 2025, indicating high freshness. The report is not a press release; however, the commissioning of the poll by a campaign group suggests a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: The direct quotes from Saeema Syeda and Tom Brufatto appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content. However, without access to the full text of the original statements, it's difficult to confirm the exact wording.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable news outlet. The YouGov poll was commissioned by Best for Britain, a campaign group, which may introduce some bias. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) and Best for Britain are known organisations, lending credibility to the report.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about public concern over immigration being 'manufactured' align with other recent surveys highlighting immigration as a top public concern on a national scale. The narrative provides specific data points and quotes from known individuals, enhancing its plausibility. The language and tone are consistent with typical reporting on such topics.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is fresh, with original quotes and data, and originates from a reputable source. The claims are plausible and supported by other recent surveys. No significant issues were identified, leading to a high confidence in the assessment.

UK politics
Immigration
Public opinion