Immigration is the biggest issue for Britons for the first time since 2016, the survey showed

Immigration topped the list of issues considered most important by Britons for the first time since 2016 – after the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union – in the wake of this month's riots, research firm Ipsos said on Friday. Against Muslims and immigrants.

About a third of Britons — 34% — cited immigration, ahead of health, 30%, the economy, 29%, crime, 25%, and inflation, 20%, according to the August edition of the Ipsos Issues Index.

For 11% of respondents, race relations were the main issue.

Net migration to the UK — the difference between people moving into the country and people leaving — is set to hit a record high of 764,000 in 2022. The following year it dropped to 685,000.

Public concerns about immigration have increased following riots in several cities this month, in which anti-immigration protesters attacked hotels and mosques housing asylum seekers, the poll's researcher said.

“The impact of recent riots across the UK is clear in this month's data… levels of concern about crime and race relations have also risen to recent highs,” said Ipsos researcher Mike Clemens.

The Ipsos poll mirrors another poll published by YouGov last week which showed immigration topping the list of most pressing national issues for the first time since 2016, when concerns about immigration were one of the main drivers of voting in the Kingdom. . It will leave the European Union that year.

Ipsos interviewed 1,010 adults from August 7-13, while YouGov interviewed 2,163 adults from August 5-6.