Reality Check - What voters really think about immigration

About the author Jim is Head of Politics & Polling at Onward, focusing on the changing values and voting patterns of the electorate and the future of the Union. [...] If the Government exerted more control over immigration, what would voters expect to happen? Do they associate greater control with higher or lower levels of immigration? A majority of people (55%) said they would expect the numbers to decrease if the Government exerted more control over the numbers and types of immigrants that come to the UK. [...] Reality Check 15 Figure 8: If the Government exerted more control over the numbers and types of immigrants who come to the UK, what would you expect to happen? 60% 50% 55% 40% 30% 20% 22% 10% 12% 11% 0% The amount of The amount of The amount of Don’t know immigration immigration immigration would increase would stay the would decrease same The ‘control and reduce’ bloc is electorally powerful Almo. [...] Concern for public services and the NHS is at, or near, the top of the list for both the drawbacks and benefits of immigration. [...] A total of 47% of people view working in key sectors like the NHS as one of the main benefits of immigration and 53% say that one of the main drawbacks of immigration is pressure on public services.