The public is ready to give Keir Starmer’s Labour government a chance with its proposed immigration reforms – and there is also room to go further, according to a new post-election poll by Focaldata for British Future.
Only one in five people (20%) disapprove of the government’s headline policy, implemented on day one: scrapping the Rwanda scheme and spending the money on a new Border Security Command. Half the public (50%) – and two-thirds (67%) of the voters who elected Labour to power – actively approve of the new approach.
Even among those who didn’t vote for Keir Starmer’s party, more agree with the policy (44%) than disagree (24%).
The new poll, conducted by Focaldata from 5-8 July with a nationally representative sample of 2,502 GB adults, finds wider approval of the immigration agenda set out in the new government’s election manifesto:
- Two-thirds of the public (66%) agrees that we should process the applications of people who have arrived in the UK seeking asylum, with only 10% disapproving. Processing of asylum claims for those arriving on small boats had been on hold under the last government, as they were deemed ineligible under its new Illegal Migration Act, leaving thousands of people living in limbo in hotels.
- Six in ten (59%) agree with the proposal to clear the asylum backlog and use of hotel accommodation by hiring additional caseworkers, while 13% disagree.
- Two-thirds of the public (65%) agree with the setting-up of a 1,000-strong returns and enforcement unit, to fast-track asylum removals to safe countries. Only 9% disagree. Enabling more safe returns, by negotiating new returns arrangements with safe countries, also has the approval of 64% of the public.
But the research also finds public approval for the new government to go further in its reforms on immigration.
- Half the public (50%) – as well as 62% of Labour 2024 voters – would approve of a new approach to the small boats issue, through a new humanitarian visa allowing a capped number of 40,000 people with a strong asylum claim or links to the UK to come safely to Britain to claim asylum – undermining the business model of people smugglers. Only 16% disapprove.
- Six in ten (62%) would support more transparency in immigration policy, through an annual migration plan being presented to Parliament each year, like the budget, with MPs debating and voting on it. Only 8% disapprove.
- Six in ten (62%) would also support new efforts to improve integration through better access to English language learning, with the aim of everyone living in the UK being fluent in English by 2035.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said:
“This new research finds the public prefers a more Starmerite approach to immigration – built on control, competence and compassion – to the storm and fury of Farage. The new PM has a mandate to find practical solutions to Britain’s problems. So he was right to scrap the Rwanda scheme, an expensive and unethical gimmick that only a minority of voters will miss.
“Getting the system working again would be a strong start. That means processing claims, getting people out of expensive hotels and returning those whose claims fail, where it’s safe to do so. But there’s also public permission to go further, too – boosting integration, increasing transparency and looking at better ways to respond to small boat arrivals.
“The evidence shows Starmer can unlock public support for a fairer and more effective approach.”
Starmer has better trust ratings than the other main party leaders when talking about immigration, but still has work to do to convince voters. The Labour leader is strongly trusted on immigration by those who voted for his party, with 71% saying they trust him on the issue. Among the public as a whole, he is trusted on immigration by 35% and distrusted by 37% – a net trust rating of -2. That puts him ahead of Rishi Sunak (25% trusted on immigration, 51% distrusted, net -26); Nigel Farage (30% trusted on immigration, 44% distrusted, net -14) and Ed Davey (23% trusted on immigration, 28% distrusted, net -5).
Most voters weren’t put off voting for Labour by its immigration policies, according to the new research. Some 24% said Labour’s immigration policy made them less likely to vote for the party. For 19% it made them more likely to vote Labour and for 44% it made no difference. Three in ten people (30%) said the Conservatives’ immigration policy made them less likely to vote for the party, while 16% said it made them more likely to vote Tory.
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