An Ipsos poll published on Friday found that immigration tops the list of issues Britons consider most important, for the first time since Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016. The results followed this month's riots, which targeted Muslims and immigrants, the organization said.
According to the August poll, just over a third of Britons (34 per cent) ranked immigration as their biggest problem, ahead of healthcare at 30 per cent, the economy at 29 per cent, crime at 25 and inflation at 20 percent.
For 11 percent of respondents, race relations were the main issue.
Overall migration to Britain reached a record high in 2022 with 764,000 people. The following year it fell to 685,000.
According to the survey, public concerns about immigration have increased following riots in several cities this month, in which anti-immigration demonstrators targeted hotels housing asylum seekers and mosques.
“The impact of the recent unrest across the UK is clear in this month's data…levels of concern about crime and race relations have also increased…” said Ipsos researcher Mike Clemence.
The riots were quelled after a number of those involved were arrested and the offenders swiftly punished. Many people also participated in anti-racism rallies.
The Ipsos poll mirrors another published by YouGov last week, which also showed immigration topping the list of most important national issues for the first time since 2016, when concerns about immigration were the main driver of the Leave vote. of Britain from the European Union.
Ipsos polled 1,010 adults between August 7 and 13, while YouGov polled 2,163 adults on August 5 and 6.
