Fears over the level of immigration in Britain have hit their highest ever level. Voter concern has been revealed in a damning new survey that also highlights unfettered immigration levels overtaking the NHS and the economy as the major issue for 33 per cent of voters.
In total, almost half of all those polled cited immigration as among the most important issues facing Britain. That is the highest recorded score for any issue in over two years, since 51 per cent mentioned the economy in July 2013, according to the latest Economist Ipsos MORI issues index.
As Breitbart London has reported, thousands of migrants have travelled across Europe to Calais from North Africa this summer before attempting to storm vehicles bound for Britain. Their sheer numbers have put unprecedented stress on support networks across Europe. All this despite the UK government’s expensive security measures to help ease the carnage in the port town.
Natacha Bouchart, the Calais mayor, recently blamed the UK’s lax asylum system for the migrant crisis. She sees an ‘uninterested’ Britain as a ‘soft touch’ for illegal immigrants who are drawn to a benefits culture of almost limitless capacity.
Bobby Duffy of Ipsos MORI said: “We have never seen concern about immigration this high, and when one single issue reaches 50 per cent it tends to signify that the public perceive that is something which needs to be addressed urgently.
“We await to see whether this 50 per cent figure becomes a high water mark, or if consistent media attention specifically focussed on Calais pushes concern beyond this level in months to come.”
In today’s survey, more than a third of the 1,054 adults questioned mentioned the NHS as among the most important issues. And over a quarter cited the economy – a figure which has remained largely unchanged since June.
Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: “We know that immigration is an issue which matters to the British public.
“Uncontrolled, mass migration makes it difficult to maintain social cohesion, puts pressure on public services, and can force down wages.
“That’s why, since 2010, we have taken a wide range of measures to cut out abuse of our immigration system and to make it systematically harder for people illegally to enter, work or remain in the UK.”
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