Report

After the fall: Why hasn’t falling immigration changed public attitudes?

This report from UK think tank British Future explores findings from the British Future immigration attitudes tracker.

‘After the fall: Why hasn’t falling immigration changes public attitudes?’ is the 2026 report from the British Future Immigration Attitudes Tracker, which has followed public attitudes to immigration for over a decade since 2015.

The new research reveals a major gap between public perception and reality as net migration drops to the lowest level in decades. The report also examines:

Public perceptions of immigration: has the public noticed falling net migration?

Do people think it will fall or increase by next year?

Which flows do people think make up most immigration to the UK?

Public satisfaction with the government’s handling of immigration.

Public trust in the main political parties on immigration, and trust in leading politicians on the issue.

Differences in attitudes between Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Reform UK voters and what that means for the politics of immigration.

Do people want immigration numbers to reduce, increase or stay the same?

Attitudes to migration to fill different roles: would people cut the numbers of doctors, care workers, lorry drivers or hospitality staff coming to the UK?

Attitudes to asylum, Channel crossings and legal routes.

Attitudes to settlement and how long migrants should have to wait before they can access Indefinite Leave to Remain and citizenship.