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More than half of voters disliked tone of EU-immigration debate, report finds EU immigration debate upset more than half of voters, report finds
(about 2 hours later)
Almost two-thirds of voters disliked the tone of the immigration debate ahead of the Brexit referendum, a report has found, with even a majority of leave voters and Ukip supporters agreeing on this point. Almost two-thirds of voters disliked the tone of the immigration debate during the Brexit referendum campaign, a report has found, including a majority of leave voters and Ukip supporters.
A wide-ranging poll carried out for a study of post-Brexit opinions by the British Future thinktank also found that only a quarter of leave supporters named immigration as the main reason for their vote, with 54% citing “taking power back from Brussels”as their main voting incentive. A wide-ranging poll carried out for a study of post-Brexit opinions by the British Future thinktank found that only a quarter of leave supporters named immigration as the main reason for their vote, with 54% citing “taking power back from Brussels” as their main voting incentive.
Related: One month on, what has been the impact of the Brexit vote so far?Related: One month on, what has been the impact of the Brexit vote so far?
The report, Disbanding the Tribes, purports to show a more nuanced picture between voters from the remain and leave camps, often characterised by their apparent polarised views over issues such as immigration. The report, Disbanding the Tribes, purports to show a more nuanced picture of voters from the remain and leave camps, often characterised by their apparent polarised views over issues such as immigration.
The thinktank’s polling of 2,400 voters carried out on the weekend after the 23 June vote found that 48% of those asked believed politicians were wary of talking about immigration incase they offended people. Thirty-five per cent of remain voters believed this to be the case, while 20% of backers for the Leave campaign thought it talked too much about immigration. The thinktank’s polling of 2,400 voters carried out on the weekend after the 23 June vote found that 48% believed politicians were wary of talking about immigration in case they offended people. Of remain voters, 35% believed this to be the case, while 20% of backers for the leave campaign thought it talked too much about immigration.
There was some correlation between opinions about the way immigration was discussed before the EU vote. Remain voters, perhaps predictably, were unhappy with the tone of the immigration debate, with 80% believing it was “dangerously overheated”. However, the poll found a small majority of leave supporters and Ukip voters – 52% and 53% – took the same view. There was some correlation in opinions about the way immigration was discussed before the EU vote. Remain voters, perhaps predictably, were unhappy with the tone of the immigration debate, with 80% believing it was “dangerously overheated”. However, the poll found a small majority of leave supporters and Ukip voters – 52% and 53% – took the same view.
British Future, which focuses on issues of national identity and migration, argues in the report that the Brexit decision can be seen as “a public vote of no confidence in how governments have handled immigration over the last decade”. The authors added: “It reflects a public perception that governments did not predict or adequately prepare for the scale and pace of immigration, and proved they did not have a grip by making and breaking promises that were impossible to keep. British Future, which focuses on issues of national identity and migration, argues in the report that the Brexit decision can be seen as “a public vote of no confidence in how governments have handled immigration over the last decade”. The authors said: “It reflects a public perception that governments did not predict, or adequately prepare for, the scale and pace of immigration and proved they did not have a grip by making and breaking promises that were impossible to keep.
“But there is clear evidence in these post-referendum findings that such frustration with governments and politicians does not equate to a xenophobic anti-migrant majority vote.”“But there is clear evidence in these post-referendum findings that such frustration with governments and politicians does not equate to a xenophobic anti-migrant majority vote.”
The report also found that more than a fifth of leave supporters had wanted to hear less about immigration during the campaign, with almost a third of remain supporters having hoped to hear more about the issue from their side. The authors said: “There is more common ground among voters, on both sides of the referendum debate, than people think.” The report found that more than a fifth of leave supporters had wanted to hear less about immigration during the campaign, with almost a third of remain supporters having hoped to hear more about the issue from their side. The authors said: “There is more common ground among voters, on both sides of the referendum debate, than people think.”
There were also some common findings on opinions about the two official campaigns. There was a near majority who believed both sides relied too heavily on “scare stories” – 63% felt this about remain; 49% for leave. Closer still were the 56% who believed remain “talked too much about unproven facts and figures”, while 52% thought the same for leave. There were some common findings on opinions about the two official campaigns. There was a near majority who believed both sides relied too heavily on “scare stories” – 63% felt this about remain; 49% for leave. Closer still were the 56% who believed remain “talked too much about unproven facts and figures”, while 52% thought the same for leave.
The study also found that for all the sound and fury of the debate, only 26% of voters made up their mind during the final four-week campaign, and that this was split evenly between the two sides. The study found that for all the sound and fury of the debate, only 26% of voters made up their mind during the final four-week campaign and that this was split evenly between the two sides.
Sunder Katwala, the director of British Future, said the country needed to “disband the referendum’s 48% and 52% tribes”.Sunder Katwala, the director of British Future, said the country needed to “disband the referendum’s 48% and 52% tribes”.
“Those on the losing side need to work through the grieving process to its final phase – acceptance – and become a strong voice in the debates we must now have about the kind of Britain we want to be after Brexit,” he said. “Otherwise the 48% won’t get a chance to influence the debate about how Britain engages with the rest of the world and its citizens – so we get the best Brexit we can, for all of Britain.”“Those on the losing side need to work through the grieving process to its final phase – acceptance – and become a strong voice in the debates we must now have about the kind of Britain we want to be after Brexit,” he said. “Otherwise the 48% won’t get a chance to influence the debate about how Britain engages with the rest of the world and its citizens – so we get the best Brexit we can, for all of Britain.”