Almost three quarters of British adults support Theresa Mays policy to cut immigration, according to a Deltapoll survey published by Channel 4 News Friday.
Despite the recent Windrush Scandal, when the Home Office threatened the children of Commonwealth citizens with deportation which led to the resignation of former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, most people said they supported the governments policy of bringing annual immigration down to the “tens of thousands.” Half of those surveyed said they still support the governments “hostile environment” policy.
Voters from across the political spectrum expressed similar views, with 86 percent of Conservative voters and two thirds of Labour voters supporting reducing EU immigration.
Even among Remain voters, 23 percent backed a “big reduction” in EU immigration, while 35 percent wanted a “small reduction.” Similar to the generational divide in the referendum, voters aged 18-24 were least inclined to support the Conservatives policy, but reduced migration still commanded a majority among this group.
Only 14 percent of those surveyed wanted EU immigration to increase.
However, more than half believed immigration has been mainly beneficial, compared 39 percent who disagreed.
In response to the poll, Conservative MP Ken Clarke told Channel 4 News: “I dont think freedom of movement has done us any harm at all.”
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage MEP, said “the disconnect [on immigration] between Westminster and ordinary folk is as big as its ever been.”
The poll surveyed 2,063 adults between June 8 and June 11, 2018.
