A NEW report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) shows that public opinion on ...
...on immigration is more negative in disadvantaged areas. The study is based on a survey of over 1,200 people in 2023 along with data from the 2022 Census. Researchers suggest that fears about pressure on national services and crime are driving sentiment on the issue. Despite public concerns, the ESRI found no direct link between local shortages in healthcare, housing, or education and negative views toward immigration. Using indicators like the number of general practitioners per household and housing affordability, the study concluded that attitudes are influenced more by perception than by local experience. Geography also plays a role. People living in rural areas tend to have more negative attitudes toward immigration than those in urban centres. However, rural communities with higher proportions of migrants expressed similar attitudes to urban areas, pointing to the impact of everyday social contact in shaping views.
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