Immigration and asylum is back as the top issue of public concern the first time since Brexit, according to exclusive polling for Sky News.
It overtook the economy as the number one issue facing the country in YouGov’s latest poll in May, even before the summer dominated by the migration debate.
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It is now at the highest point level of concern in over five years, since the small boats started crossing the Channel in significant numbers.
In the most recent YouGov poll, 58% picked immigration as one of the three top issues facing the country at the moment, while 51% pointed to the economy, 29% health and 22% crime.
The overwhelming majority of the public think this is because immigration is too high, with 70% saying this, 18% saying it’s about right, and 3% saying it is too low.
For decades, until very recently, successive prime ministers and chancellors have told voters that migration is a public good, but the public has not bought this argument.
Some 50% think immigration is having a negative impact on the UK, with 22% saying the benefits are equally weighed and 22% also saying that it has a positive effect.
The exclusive polling also reveals whether the public think other governments would be better at dealing with migration and small boats than Labour are.
Less than one in five – just 18% – think a Tory government would be doing much better, with 55% thinking they would be the same and 12% worse.
The more hardline approach outlined by Reform UK appears to have be noticed by the public. Some 40% think a Reform government would be handling migration and small boats better, and 26% the same, with 19% worse.
YouGov interviewed 2,268 GB adults between 31 August and 1 September.
