UK’s immigration polls ‘worrying’

Almost two-thirds of white Britons think immigration has been bad for the UK, according to a survey which anti-racism campaigners called a “disturbing picture” of society’s attitudes.

Research commissioned by the Searchlight Educational Trust also found that Asians were most likely to back a halt to all immigration, at least until the economy had recovered.

Labour MP Jon Cruddas said the findings should “ricochet through the body politic” as they showed the potential for the rise of the far-right unless mainstream parties acted soon.

The poll, carried out by Populus, was one of the largest studies carried out on the subject, based on 91 questions to more than 5,000 individuals.

Immigration was held to have been on the whole a bad thing for Britain by 63 per cent of whites, 43 per cent of Asians and 17 per cent of black Britons.

It found that 39 per cent of Asians, 34 per cent of whites and 21 per cent of blacks believed immigration should be halted either permanently or at least until the UK’s economy was back on track.

Almost half (48 per cent) were open to supporting a new far-right party as long as it eschewed “fascist imagery” and did not condone violence. And 52 per cent agreed that “Muslims create problems in the UK”.

Ethnic minority communities generally feel less “proud” at seeing the English flag flown – though only 25 per cent of whites questioned said they felt that emotion.

The Trust said the report, titled Fear And Hope – The New Politics Of Identity, “paints a disturbing picture of our attitudes towards each another and the unknown”.
Source: ITN