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Support in Scotland for reduced levels of immigration has soared in recent years amid growing criticism of the approach taken by Labour and the SNP.
asserted
Support → see → Labour
New research by academics reveals that half of Scots now want the numbers coming from overseas to be cut, while less than a quarter want to see an increase.
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quarter → reveal → increase
Support for a reduction has skyrocketed in recent years, from 28 per cent in 2023 to 50 per cent this year.
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Support → skyrocket → cent
It led to claims that the public in Scotland are firmly opposed to the ‘reckless’ approach of both the Labour and SNP governments.
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public → lead → governments
While immigration is reserved to Westminster, the SNP government has backed an increase in order to overcome the impact of demographic change and help grow the economy.
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government → reserve → economy
It also previously removed ‘local connection’ rules which allow people to apply for housing in any local authority area in Scotland.
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people → remove → Scotland
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said the report 'must be an urgent wake-up call to pathetically weak Labour ministers who are doing nothing to stop the boats'
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who → say → boats
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said: ‘This report confirms what the Conservatives have been saying and must be an urgent wake-up call to pathetically weak Labour ministers who are doing nothing to stop the boats.
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who → say → boats
‘Scots are increasingly concerned about the impact of immigration – particularly illegal immigration - is having in their communities, yet left-wing politicians are completely oblivious to their views.
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politicians → have → views
‘John Swinney is so relaxed that he continues to promote a reckless open borders policy and refuses to reinstate common-sense local connection rules.
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he → continue → rules
Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives have a border plan to tackle immigration that includes the toughest reforms Britain has ever seen to border laws and operations.
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Britain → have → laws
‘Both of Scotland’s governments are dangerously complacent on this issue and must address people’s concerns, otherwise they will only continue to grow.’
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they → address → concerns
The attitudes to immigration in Scotland survey by the Migration Policy Scotland think-tank found that 33 per cent of Scottish adults want immigration levels to reduce a lot, while 18 per cent would like them to reduce a little, with the overall support for a cut rounding to 50 per cent.
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support → find → cent
Only 7 per cent of respondents want immigration to increase a lot, while 16 per cent would like it to reduce a little and 27 per cent want it to remain the same.
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it → want → respondents
Support for a cut has soared from 45 per cent last year, 42 per cent in 2024 and 28 per cent in 2023.
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Support → soar → 2023
Thomas Kerr, deputy leader of Reform UK Scotland, said: ‘Voters across the political spectrum have spent years demanding lower immigration and successive governments have either ignored them or smeared them as racist.
‘
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governments → say → racist
While the SNP and Labour insist immigration is all upside, voters can plainly see the strain on housing, the limited GP appointments and the essential services Scots can no longer rely on.
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Scots → insist → housing
‘The old parties have been completely out of step with the public on immigration for years and that is why Reform exists.
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Reform → exist → years
‘Reform’s position is simple: stop mass illegal migration and things will start to get better for local Scots.’
The findings come after Scottish Government figures last week showed that 6,995 refugees and other legal migrants declared themselves homeless in Scotland in 2025-26, which was 40 per cent higher than the previous year.
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which → stop → year
Migration Policy Scotland found that 94 per cent of people who voted Reform in the last general election in Scotland want to see immigration levels reduce, followed by 75 per cent of Conservative voters, 52 per cent who backed Labour, 42 per cent of Lib Dems, 35 per cent of SNP voters and 27 per cent of Greens.
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who → find → Greens
Just under half – 49 per cent – now believe migration has a positive impact on Scotland, while 32 per cent said it had a negative impact and 11 per cent were neutral.
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cent → believe → impact
It said that 64 per cent of those in Scotland who have contact with immigrants support increased skilled migration and are much more likely to believe it has a positive impact.
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it → say → impact
Dr Rebecca Kay, associate director at Migration Policy Scotland, said: ‘Even as net international migration to Scotland has fallen substantially, views on immigration and its impacts are hardening.
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views → say → immigration
There is a generalised shift towards more negative opinions, nonetheless the detail of MPS attitudes to immigration data reveals a more complicated picture.
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detail → be → picture
One which could be helpful in rebuilding consensus and finding a constructive way forward.’
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which → rebuild → way
The Aporia
