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Labour failed to address immigration concerns

Labour needs to address anxieties on competition for jobs, wages and benefits

Immigration was a real concern for a small but significant number of voters who deserted Labour at the last election, according to new polling evidence commissioned by independent think tank Demos, released today. The poll shows Labour lost voters because of immigration but that voters remain moderate in their desire for border controls and are more concerned about immigrants making a fair contribution.

More than a third (36%) of voters that Labour lost at the last election agreed that ‘Britain should limit the number of people coming from other countries to live and work here because, on balance, they damage our economy and society’, compared with just over one in four (28%) voters who stayed loyal to Labour.

The poll suggests Labour failed to explain its ‘points based’ immigration policy. The majority (49%) of voters agree that immigrants should contribute before accessing the benefits of citizenship. But only one in ten (11%) voters said people should be allowed to come because they benefit the economy and British society compared with more than one in three (34%) who said economic migrants “damage our economy and society’.

Voters that Labour lost also expressed anxiety about greater diversity undermining British identity. Almost one in five voters (19%) that Labour lost at the last election said greater diversity is undermining British identity - compared with 15% who stayed loyal to Labour – but this was still below the national average of one in five (22%) of voters in general who took this view.

Voters concerned about globalisation and Britain’s national pride were strongly correlated with attitudes to immigration. But moderate views on British national pride were the strongest of all, suggesting that Labour should think twice about toughening it’s stance and appearing closed to immigration or globalisation.

The overwhelming majority of voters (66%) support globalisation if it doesn’t come at the expense of pride in Britain and think immigrants should be able to live and work in Britain but only be granted benefits if they have contributed.

The poll shows that immigration was a class issue with social class showing the strongest correlation to concern over immigration. Voters in the lowest social class (E) were almost twice as likely as the highest (46% to 25%) to want restriction on economic migrants.

Richard Darlington, Head of the Open Left project at Demos, said:

“This polling evidence shows that Labour lost voters over immigration and failed to get its message across to voters about managing economic migration.

“Labour’s next leader must not duck the issue and should make sure they position policies on housing, welfare and employment rights in the context of the debates voters themselves are having about immigration.

“Labour will need to address voters’ perceptions on immigration but that does not necessarily mean Labour needs stronger border control policies.

“If immigration becomes a ‘no go area’ for Labour, they will remain disconnected from the electorate at large.”

Demos commissioned YouGov to undertake a 45,000 respondent poll on social attitudes and perceptions of the main political parties to understand the election outcome. The poll allows Demos to compare the outlook of voters Labour lost since 2005, with the ones they retained at the last election. The full poll results will be published in September by the Open Left project.

Full Demos Press release