Understanding public attitudes to immigration. Proposing reforms to restore public confidence that immigration can work fairly for all of us.
Britain’s post-Brexit immigration approach needs to rebuild public confidence and secure political consent, while meeting the needs of the economy, public services and our global obligations. That will require a much deeper level of public involvement, to address people’s anxieties and respond with a system that manages the pressures and secures the gains of immigration.
Advocates for the gains of migration do not have the public and political support they need. We work with civil society, employers and political voices to develop public messages, policy agendas and broader coalitions to engage concerns effectively by proposing constructive solutions.
The findings from our National Conversation on Immigration project inform our approach to policy change.
British Future, together with Hope not hate and the Home Affairs Select Committee, conducted the biggest-ever public consultation on immigration in 2018. The National Conversation on Immigration comprised over 130 meetings with local citizens and stakeholders in 60 locations across every nation and region of the UK, together with an online survey and nationally representative research by ICM. In total 19,951 people took part. Read its final report here.
Date: 16 March 2022
Heather Rolfe looks at the new Ipsos immigration attitudes tracker results, and finds increasing public support for migration for work.
Date: 14 March 2022
Public support for welcoming refugees is part of a broader warming of attitudes to immigration that pre-dates the Ukraine crisis, according to the latest wave of the Ipsos/British Future Unbound Immigration Tracker.
Date: 2 November 2021
Heather Rolfe considers the immigration policy options for Scotland, and the context of shifting public attitudes to immigration in Scotland and across the UK.
Date: 6 October 2021
Heather Rolfe reflects on PM Boris Johnson’s conference speech & suggests the public may not see a binary choice between skills & immigration.
Date: 14 September 2021
Public attitudes to immigration are more positive than negative across a range of measures, according to the latest findings from Ipsos MORI research that has tracked changing public attitudes to immigration across twelve waves of research since 2015.
Date: 20 August 2021
Letter to The Times urging a generous refugee resettlement programme for those forced to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban’s seizure of power.
Date: 28 July 2021
70 years ago, the UK and other countries signed the UN Refugee Convention. Since then it has saved thousands of people’s lives. To mark the anniversary, refugees from across those seven decades came together to celebrate this proud history – and to re-make that promise to welcome those who most need our help.
Date: 25 May 2021
Steve Ballinger reports from the ‘What next for immigration?’ conference, jointly hosted by British Future and Bright Blue.
Date: 5 May 2021
How will migration to the UK look in the future, and what will that mean for public attitudes? Asks British Future’s Director of Research and Relationships, Heather Rolfe.
"We can take some solace in the fact that this offer to import the Trump and Vance doctrine into our own politics is something we will get to decide for ourselves at the ballot box." Our @sundersays letter to @thetimes on Trump's fears for Europe's 'civilisational erasure' [1/2]
With the men's football World Cup draw today, @sundersays @EasternEye column reports from the women's game at Wembley: "It would be hard to find a more inclusive pride and patriotism than the way in which the Wembley crowd were cheering on the Lionesses"
What the Lionesses’ success reveals about unity and diversity in England
Expert says sport serves as a bridge between communities.
www.easterneye.biz
We’re delighted that our @jake_puddle &
@Heather_Rolfe, together with @jillyrutter of @BelongNetwork, won the MRS Presidents Medal last night at the Market Research Society & Research Live Awards 2025, for the ‘The State of Us’ report. [1/3]
Good to see @JohnRentoul citing British Future's new research and analysis in this explainer of the new net migration figures for @Independent [1/3]
If you missed our webinar today 'New net migration figures: What next for politics and policy?' you can watch a recording here:
THURSDAY WEBINAR: 'New Net Migration Figures - What Next for Policy and Politics?'
Our expert panel discusses the new ONS net migration figures (published 9.30am Thurs 27th) and findings from the British Future/Ipsos Immigration Attitudes Tracker (also published 27 Nov) [1/2]
'Labour risks leaving its voters behind over settlement proposals' – New blog from our @Heather_Rolfe for @UKandEU drawing on research for the Immigration Attitudes Tracker [1/2]
"What is the best-kept secret in British politics? It must be falling immigration. Almost everyone knows that immigration hit record highs... Few realise the last couple of years have seen some of the biggest ever reductions too." @sundersays @EasternEye
Net migration now 204,000 – new @ONS figures today
Net migration now 204,000 – new @ONS figures today
At 204,000, long-term international net migration (number of people immigrating long-term minus number of people emigrating long-term) for the year ending June 2025 was around two-thirds lower than a year earlier (649,000).
Read more ➡️
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingjune2025
PUBLISHED TODAY: ‘Noise & Nuance: What the public really thinks about immigration’ – the report on the British Future/Ipsos Immigration Attitudes Tracker, which has studied public opinion on immigration and asylum since 2015 [🧵]
Our @sundersays.bsky.social gave evidence this morning to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee Inquiry into Settlement, Citizenship and Integration - watch here:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/cdf09b84-dbe9-4f35-b5a3-672f5117b586
