Immigration Polling 2026
61% want overall migration reduced. Reform UK leads trust at 34% after the Conservative record imploded. Labour at just 8%. Net migration peaked at 745,000 in 2022 — voters have not forgotten. The issue reshaping British politics.
Public Attitudes to Migration — 2026
Immigration consistently ranks as the second or third most important issue for UK voters in 2026 polling, behind the NHS and cost of living. 61% of adults say they want overall migration reduced, with the figure rising to 72% specifically for asylum seekers. However, the picture is more nuanced than a simple anti-immigration reading: strong majorities also want to maintain high-skilled migration, protect NHS recruitment, and safeguard family reunion rights.
The political landscape on immigration has shifted dramatically since 2022. The Conservative government’s repeated promises to reduce net migration — followed by net migration hitting a record 745,000 in 2022 — and the expensive, abandoned Rwanda scheme generated deep voter cynicism. Trust in the Conservatives on immigration collapsed from 34% in 2019 to 22% in 2026. Reform UK has captured almost all of that lost trust, rising from near zero in 2021 to 34% today.
Key immigration poll findings — 2026
- 61% say overall migration should be reduced
- 72% want fewer asylum seekers admitted
- 58% support prioritising skilled workers in the immigration system
- Only 8% trust Labour most on immigration (record low for a governing party)
- Reform UK leads immigration trust at 34%, up from 3% in 2021
- 54% say immigration has been bad for Britain overall — vs 28% good
- 31% trust no party on immigration (reflecting widespread cynicism)
Net Migration Trend — 2012–2026
The gap between Conservative promises and net migration reality is central to why Reform UK now leads on immigration trust. Net migration consistently exceeded every official target set between 2010 and 2024.
| Year | Net migration | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | ~160,000 | Cameron pledged “tens of thousands” target |
| 2015 | ~330,000 | Record at the time; Con manifesto promised reduction |
| 2018 | ~270,000 | Post-Brexit referendum; some EU migration falling |
| 2020 | ~185,000 | Covid-related low; borders partly restricted |
| 2022 | ~745,000 | Record high: post-Covid bounce + Ukraine + HK/India routes |
| 2023 | ~685,000 | Still historically elevated despite Sunak pledges |
| 2024 | ~530,000 | Labour takes office Jul 2024; student visa squeeze begins |
| 2026 est. | ~430,000 | Labour measures reducing numbers; still well above 2019 levels |
ONS net migration estimates. 2026 estimated. The 2022 record level is the key data point that destroyed Conservative immigration credibility and supercharged Reform UK trust.
Policy by Policy: Nuanced Voter Attitudes
Immigration attitudes are more differentiated than headline numbers suggest. Voters distinguish sharply between different types of migration and different policy responses. The demand is for selectivity and control, not a blanket ban.
| Policy / migration type | Support | Oppose | Key note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce asylum seeker numbers | 72% | 14% | Highest support of any immigration measure |
| Increase deportation enforcement | 64% | 20% | Cross-partisan: Labour voters 54%, Reform 89% |
| Reduce net migration overall | 61% | 22% | Headline figure; hides type-by-type variation |
| Protect family reunion rights | 62% | 24% | Strong support cuts across political lines |
| Prioritise skilled worker visas | 58% | 18% | Broad support; NHS doctors most cited example |
| Recruit NHS doctors & nurses abroad | 78% | 11% | Most popular immigration measure of all |
| Seasonal agricultural workers (farming) | 58% | 22% | Accepted as economic necessity |
| International students | 61% | 27% | Universities/towns: positive; elsewhere: mixed |
| Leave the ECHR (to speed deportations) | 38% | 42% | Opposed overall; backed 76% by Reform voters |
| Reduce student visa numbers | 31% | 51% | Minority position; universities strongly opposed |
Source: YouGov composite, May 2026.
Immigration Salience: Who Really Cares?
Immigration is the defining issue for Reform UK voters and a significant driver for Conservatives, but it has much lower salience for Labour, Lib Dem, and Green voters. This asymmetry is politically crucial: parties that move on immigration primarily retain or gain voters who already vote Reform or Conservative.
| Party voter group | % naming immigration as top issue | Strategic implication |
|---|---|---|
| Reform UK voters | 73% | Primary driver of Reform support; policy must match rhetoric |
| Conservative voters | 52% | Key competition with Reform for these voters |
| Labour voters | 18% | Much lower; NHS and cost of living dominate |
| Lib Dem voters | 9% | Very low; immigration hardening alienates this base |
| Green voters | 4% | Near-zero; pro-migration stance locks in Green voters |
| All adults | 31% | Overall national figure |
YouGov, May 2026. % naming immigration as their single most important issue facing the country.
Most Trusted Party on Immigration
Most trusted party on immigration. YouGov, May 2026.
31% trust no party — reflecting years of missed net migration targets under both parties.
Immigration views by age & education
| Group | Want reduced |
|---|---|
| Over-65s | 78% |
| 45–64 | 68% |
| 35–44 | 54% |
| 18–34 | 38% |
| Non-graduates | 74% |
| Graduates | 44% |
YouGov, May 2026. The education gap on immigration is one of the sharpest demographic cleavages in British polling.
Explore More
Reform UK Polling
Reform UK at 28% nationally, driven by immigration as the primary voter concern. Full polling and constituency projections.
Brexit Legacy Polling
45% Regret Brexit, 38% think it was worth it. How Leave/Remain distributes across immigration attitudes in 2026.
Nigel Farage Polling
Farage’s approval ratings, immigration trust, and how he performs against other leaders on the doorstep.
Conservative Polling
Conservatives at 19% nationally. How the Rwanda implosion and net migration record destroyed their immigration credibility.
Crime & Policing Polling
58% say crime is getting worse. Immigration and crime concerns are strongly correlated among Reform UK voters.
All Topics
Browse all polling topic deep-dives — NHS, housing, economy, climate and more.
What do UK voters think about immigration in 2026?
61% of UK adults want overall migration reduced, with the figure rising to 72% specifically for asylum seekers. However, majorities also want to protect skilled worker migration (58%), NHS recruitment from abroad (78% support), and family reunion rights (62%). Voter attitudes are more differentiated than headline numbers suggest — the demand is for selectivity and control, not a blanket ban on all migration. Reform UK polling →
Why does Reform UK lead on immigration trust?
Reform UK has displaced the Conservatives as the most trusted party on immigration (34% vs 22%) because voters concluded the Conservatives repeatedly promised to cut immigration but failed. Net migration hit a record 745,000 in 2022 under Conservative government despite repeated ministerial pledges. Reform UK presents no comparable record of broken promises, and Nigel Farage has made immigration his signature issue for 30 years. Nigel Farage polling →
Why does Labour poll so low on immigration trust?
Only 8% of voters trust Labour most on immigration — a record low for a governing party. This reflects both Labour’s historically softer positioning on migration control and the reality that the party’s electoral base (younger, graduate, urban) prioritises other issues. Labour messaging on immigration aims at the 18% of its own voters who care about it, but this creates a credibility gap with the 61% who want migration reduced.
Does immigration polling vary by age or education?
Strongly. 78% of over-65s want migration reduced versus 38% of 18–24 year olds. Non-graduates (74%) are far more likely to want migration reduced than graduates (44%). This education and age gap on immigration is one of the clearest demographic cleavages in British polling and explains why immigration drives Reform UK voting in non-graduate communities. Brexit legacy polling →
What does polling show about different types of migration?
Voters want selectivity, not blanket restrictions. Recruiting NHS doctors and nurses from abroad polls at 78% support — the most popular immigration measure tested. International students poll at 61% support. Seasonal agricultural workers at 58%. By contrast, reducing asylum seekers polls at 72% support and leaving the ECHR polls at only 38%. The evidence is that voters want immigration that benefits services and the economy, and restrictions on asylum routes. Conservative immigration record →
How has Labour’s immigration policy been received by voters?
Labour has tightened student visa rules and reduced some family visa categories since taking office. These measures have reduced the net migration estimate from 685,000 (2023) to approximately 430,000 (2026 estimate) but the number remains far above the pre-pandemic level. 54% of voters say Labour is not doing enough on immigration, and 8% trust the party on the issue — suggesting the policy movement has not yet translated into trust gains. Labour polling →