Immigration has been a central topic of debate in the lead-up to the UK general election fuelled by Nigel Farage entering the stage as leader of Reform UK declaring it the “immigration election.”
Less than 24 hours after Farage announced he would stand in Clacton, the Conservatives pledged to reduce the number of visas available to migrants each year.
Sunak declared that the party would be willing to take “bold action to reduce immigration” if his party was re-elected on July 4.
During their 14-year rule, the Conservative Party made a string of pledges to reduce net migration, but they have consistently failed to deliver.
Sunak declared that the party would be willing to take “bold action to reduce immigration” if his party was re-elected on July 4
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In 2010, David Cameron promised in the election campaign that he would bring net migration down to “tens of thousands” per year.
Similarly, when Theresa May came into power in 2017 she reiterated the tens of thousands pledge.
In the 2019 Conservative manifesto, Boris Johnson promised to reduce unskilled migration to the UK, followed by Sunak’s aim to “stop the boats.”
In reality, the Tories have raised immigration with net migration standing at two and a half times the 2010 figure and double that of 2015.
In 2019, Boris Johnson promised to reduce unskilled migration to the UK
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Non-EU workers also outnumber those from the EU with 85 per cent of people arriving to the UK at the end of 2023 being from non-EU countries, ONS data shows.
In contrast, just over half of those arriving in 2010 and a third between 2013 and 2018 were from non-EU countries.
Furthermore, the asylum backlog has soared over the last 14 years.
Figures from the Home Office show by the end of March 2024, the figure for asylum applications stood at 118,300, 16 times the number from March 2011.
Since Farage’s return to politics, Reform UK has hit a new polling high, at the cost of the Conservatives
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As the Conservatives fail to deliver on their promises each election, it’s understandable why voters are sceptic to believe another pledge by the Tories and are looking to other leaders.
Since Farage’s return to politics, Reform UK has hit a new polling high, at the cost of the Conservatives.
A recent YouGov poll showed that 26 per cent of 2019 Conservative voters indicated they would vote for Reform UK in the upcoming election.
Reform are also overtaking the Tories in the Midlands and the North, according to a June poll.
Stephen Flynn for the SNP argues immigration is “essential” for public services, businesses and the economy
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Immigration control has been a leading topic for Reform UK and has seen an increase in their support.
For Tory voters, immigration is a top issue of contention – something which Reform voters are tapping into.
In the North, the Conservatives are polling at 16 per cent, 5 points behind Reform UK at 21 per cent.
Similarly, in the Midlands, the Tories stand at 20 per cent while Reform pushes ahead at 25 per cent.
Other party leaders have voiced alternative stances on immigration in the lead-up to the election.
Speaking at the latest televised debate between the leading figures from the seven main UK parties, Stephen Flynn for the SNP said immigration was “essential” for public services, businesses and the economy and called to “end the demonisation” of migration.
For the Greens, Carla Denyer argued that migrants have been a “good thing” for the country and the Greens do not want a “cap” on migration but a “fairer and more humane” system.
Source Agencies
