Anti-Migrant Swedes Double, 65 Per Cent Have No Confidence In Government

The proportion of Swedes who want their country to accept fewer ‘refugees’ has almost doubled in a year, meaning a strong majority – 60 per cent – now support slashing immigration.

In contrast, only 13 per cent said they thought more ‘refugees ‘should be accepted, more than halving from 31 per cent in 2015.

Furthermore, almost 65 per cent of the population now have little or no confidence in how their government has managed migrant policy, compared to 48 per cent 12 months ago.

The rapid shift in public opinion in the famously liberal Nordic nation will work to dispel notions of the so-called ‘progressive’ majority there.

The survey, for Swedish paper Aftonbladet by the research company Inizio, was carried out between the 31^st of August and the 2^nd of September this year and last.

Sweden accepted more migrants per capita last year than any other European nation. In 2014, there were around 80,000 asylum seekers arriving, rising to 163,000 in 2015.

In 2015, before the true scale of the influx was known, only 34 per cent said that Sweden should take in fewer ‘refugees’. This year, the number was up to 60 per cent.

Furthermore, far fewer people now want to help migrants themselves.

The number of people who say they do not want to help migrants has almost doubled in 12 months, from 11 per cent to 21.

Last year, 54 per cent said they “definitely” wanted to help and 12 per cent said “maybe”.

This year, just 30 per cent said they “definitely” wanted to help, and 26 per cent said “maybe”.

“We have taken in many refugees who have not yet been integrated, and the debate is ongoing”, Inizio pollster Karin Nelsson explained to Aftonbladet.

“Many people in the survey wondered how taking even more in would work. Some also think that other countries should take more responsibility”, he added.

The liberal government has begun to respond to public concerns, as the anti-mass migration Sweden Democrats have periodically polled as the largest political party in Sweden.

Swedish authorities introduced some border checks at the end of last year, promised at the begging of this year to deport 80,000 failed asylum-seekers, and have slightly tightened residency laws.