Labor leads Tories in survey on immigration as figures set to show migration rise

Labor is more confident than the Conservatives on immigration, a new poll has found as official figures are expected to show a big increase in net migration.

After a rise in public trust in the Tories’ immigration, asylum and small boats policies in March, a poll conducted by Ipsos between 16 and 18 May found that trust has fallen again, with Labor leading on all three issues. Is leading.

The poll found that 38% trusted Labor to have the right policies on immigration and asylum seekers, and 37% trusted the party to handle the issue of small boats crossing the Channel.

Just 29% said the same about the Conservatives on immigration, 28% trust them on asylum policy and 27% trust them on Small Boat.

But there was also widespread pessimism about both parties’ policies on immigration and asylum, with 50% saying they do not trust Labor and more than 60% saying they do not trust the Conservatives.

Among conservative voters, trust in government policy is high but still does not exceed 50%.

The Office for National Statistics is preparing to release its latest figures on net migration on Thursday morning, which are expected to show significant increases due to high numbers of refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong.

Such an increase is expected to fuel calls from Conservative backbenchers for a tougher crackdown on immigration, while Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously said she favors net migration below 100,000.

The poll, which surveyed 1,000 British adults, found that the public was divided on their preferences for immigration policy.

Some 23% of voters said the government should prioritize reducing overall immigration, even if it means filling job vacancies, but 24% said the focus should be on filling vacancies, even if it means Means increase in net migration.

Those who voted Conservative in 2019 were more likely to focus on cutting overall migration numbers, with 40% saying it should be a priority, but there was no clear majority for either position.

The poll also found little change in opinion on Mrs Braverman’s performance as Home Secretary, with only 19% saying she was doing a good job and 37% saying she was doing a bad job – similar figures for March. nearby.

The vote was preceded by the latest row over the handling of a speeding ticket, which resulted in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision not to order an inquiry by his adviser on the ministerial code.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos, said: “Confidence in the Conservatives on the issue has again plummeted, after seeing a rise in their confidence in their handling of immigration in March.

“This is reflected in the views of his own 2019 voters, who are most likely to think that net migration is increasing, although his own supporters are still more positive than earlier this year.

“Labour now has a lead on the issue, although public confidence in neither party is high. There is a lack of consensus about how the country should balance the competing priorities of unfilled job vacancies and attrition,” states That regaining the public’s trust will not be straightforward.