2025 was a busy year for us at British Future. We produced a range of reports and research, new polling and analysis, together with commentary and media engagement. The year ended on a high note, with a growing team, exciting new projects for 2026, and the award of the MRS President’s Medal for our ‘The State of Us’ report.
Our year began with a new initiative in partnership with Frank Sharry, one of America’s leading immigration strategists, to examine the lessons from the US in how to challenge populism and strengthen the centre ground on immigration. This was followed in February with new research exploring public attitudes towards international students.
Spring saw a new Immigration White Paper from the government. British Future’s response deployed new polling to show public support for a more balanced approach, recognising the contribution of migration for work and study. We also marked VE Day 80, ensuring that the contributions of Commonwealth soldiers were fully recognised.
The summer brought a number of milestones. We launched the award-winning State of Us report, with partners Belong, as a foundational input to the new Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion. Work began on a new project examining inclusion and belonging in the London Borough of Newham, while in the East Midlands we partnered with Nottingham Forest and Leicester City football clubs to host a Windrush Day conference celebrating the Windrush Generation’s enduring impact on football, featuring Forest legend Viv Anderson and the new Windrush Commissioner, Clive Foster.
Autumn saw the publication of ‘How to actually stop the boats’, a constructive policy response to help manage irregular Channel crossings with control and compassion. We hosted party conference panels and discussions in Liverpool, Bournemouth and Manchester, and also responded to the government’s announcement of major changes to asylum, immigration and settlement rules.
Our 2025 Immigration Attitudes Tracker report with Ipsos highlighted the nuance in public opinion on immigration. It coincided with the announcement of a significant fall in net migration numbers. This, we argue, should prompt a shift in our immigration debate to one that seeks to manage the pressures and gains of immigration to Britain.
We ended the year by focusing on shared history with the launch of the My Family Legacy project, part of a new Royal British Legion initiative to raise awareness of South Asian service in the world wars. It was also great to see British Future’s work being Highly Commended at the Think Tank of the Year Awards.
2025 is a year that many of us will have found difficult and divisive. Our aim throughout has been to use research, dialogue and public engagement to uncover and strengthen the common ground on issues like immigration and asylum, race, identity and social cohesion that can feel intractably polarised.
British Future goes into 2026 with an expanded staff team and exciting new projects on racial equity and bridging divides within South Asian communities. We look forward to working with you in the year to come.
