Two Thirds of Britons Say Immigration Has a Negative Effect on the UK
Three-in-five respondents believe illegal immigrants who are currently working should be required to leave their jobs and be deported.
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(12/20/11) -
A feeling of animosity towards both legal and illegal immigrants has exacerbated in Britain, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative sample of 2,006 adults, 69 per cent of respondents think immigration is having a negative effect on the UK.
Seven-in-ten Britons (72%) would like to decrease the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in the United Kingdom. A majority of respondents in all three age groups agree with this course of action, including 52 per cent of those aged 18-to-34.
Illegal immigration remains a concern for respondents as well, with 58 per cent of Britons (+4 since 2009) saying that these immigrants take jobs away from UK workers, and 61 per cent calling for their deportation. Only one-in-five respondents (20%) would consent to a system that would allow illegal immigrants to work in the UK on temporary basis, but without becoming citizens.
Respondents over the age of 55 hold particularly harsh views on immigration, with three-in-five (75%) saying it has a negative effect on the UK, and four-in-five (82%) calling for a reduction in the number of legal immigrants.
Download Full Methodology Statement
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
Methodology: From December 1 to December 2, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,006 randomly selected British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
