Immigration charts as biggest issue in UK amid riots

The Britons are at their wits about immigration and the issue tops their worries. This is after the anti-immigration riots which targeted immigrants for days. Now, over 34% have said it is the most pressing concern in the UK. This marks the first time since October 2016 -- when the UK voted to leave the European Union -- that immigration is the leading concern for the UK, according to an Ipsos poll released on August 16.

The last time immigration was the Number 1 issue for Britishers was in 2016, the time of Brexit.

Just over a third of Britons consider immigration as the important issue, surpassing concerns about healthcare at 30%, the economy at 29%, crime at 25%, and inflation at 20%, according to the August edition of the Ipsos Issues Index.

Another 11% think inter-race relations is a burning problem.

The UK is experiencing extensive rioting and violence by far-right groups after the stabbing deaths of three children. These attacks, initially targeting Muslims due to a misinformation campaign, are now also affecting the South Asian community, with Indians caught in the middle.

DECREASE IN NET MIGRATION DESPITE HIGH INDIAN NUMBERS

Net migration to the UK has dropped by 10% in 2023 to 685,000 after hitting a high in 2022 of 764,000, the Office for Statistics (ONS) data shows.

Despite the drop, Indians were the largest group of migrants to the UK in 2023, with 250,000 moving there, primarily for employment and education. This increase occurred despite a 10% decline in net immigration to the UK compared to 2022.

Of the 250,000 Indians who migrated, 127,000 did so for work, 115,000 for studies, and 9,000 for other reasons.

IMPACT OF RECENT RIOTS ON PUBLIC SENTIMENTS

The public's worries about immigration come at a time when the UK has seen massive riots in various towns and cities, where anti-immigration protesters targeted hotels housing asylum-seekers and mosques.

"The impact of the recent riots across the UK is clear in this month's data...the level of concern about crime and race relations has also surged to recent highs," Ipsos researcher Mike Clemence said.

The unrest subsided after much havoc was created in several corners of the UK. But now riots have subsided. This happened finally after several participants were arrested and quickly jailed, and many others joined anti-racism protests, reported Reuters.

The Ipsos poll reflects findings from a YouGov survey released last week, which similarly indicated that immigration is now the top national concern for the first time since 2016, when immigration was a key factor in Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

Ipsos conducted their survey with 1,010 adults from August 7-13, while YouGov surveyed 2,163 adults from August 5-6.

The riots this month and this survey reveal one thing: immigration as an issue in the UK cannot be looked away from.