UK Immigration Poll ‘Disturbing’

Almost two-thirds of white Britons think immigration has been bad for the UK, according to a survey Sunday which anti-racism campaigners called a “disturbing picture” of society’s attitudes.

Research commissioned by the “Searchlight Educational Trust” also found that Asians were most likely to back a halt to all immigration, at least until the economy had recovered.

The poll, carried out by Populus polling group, was one of the largest studies carried out on the subject, based on 91 questions to more than 5,000 individuals.

Immigration was held to have been on the whole a bad thing for Britain by 63% of whites, 43 percent of Asians and 17 percent of black Britons.

It found that 39 percent of Asians, 34 percent of whites and 21 percent of blacks believed immigration should be halted either permanently or at least until the UK’s economy was back on track.

Almost half (48 percent) were open to supporting a new far-right party as long as it eschewed “fascist imagery” and did not condone violence.

And 52 percent agreed that “Muslims create problems in the UK”.

Ethnic minority communities generally feel less “proud” at seeing the English flag flown – though only 25 percent of whites questioned said they felt that emotion. The Trust said the report, titled “Fear And Hope – The New Politics Of Identity”, paints a disturbing picture of our attitudes towards each another and the unknown”.

“It also graphically highlights the dangers that lie ahead if the issues highlighted in the research are not addressed”.