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British attitudes towards immigration are still among the most positive in Europe

Huge anti-Brexit marches have taken place since the referendum was held last year (Picture: REX Features)
Huge anti-Brexit marches have taken place since the referendum was held last year (Picture: REX Features)

The amount of people in Britain who hold positive attitudes toward immigration is continuing to outweigh those who don’t.

But there is also a stark generational gap on attitudes towards the economic benefits of immigration.

The British Social Attitudes survey, which is the UK’s landmark study on economic and social issues, found that by 2014, the amount of people who believed in the benefits of immigration were ahead of those who didn’t by 4 percent.

In comparison, the amount of people who believed that immigration was bad for the economy were leading by 12 points in 2002.

However, the study also revealed that a huge gulf exists in age groups when it comes to attitudes towards the economic impact of immigration.

A huge gulf exists in age groups (Picture: REX Features)
A huge gulf exists in age groups (Picture: REX Features)

In the UK, a 46 percentage point gap exists between graduates aged 45 and under and school leavers over 65 who are positive about the economic impact of immigration.

The study claimed: ‘By contrasting views about immigration’s economic impacts among young degree-educated people with those of older school-leavers, we find that the UK has the starkest social divide in views in Europe.

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‘The UK’s divide in attitudes about immigration’s cultural impact is also one of the deepest in the continent.’

Despite the divide, however, British attitudes toward immigration are still reportedly some of the most progressive in Europe.

The study added: ‘The public has become more positive about the economic impact of immigration, with the proportion judging immigration to be good for the British economy rising 14 points from 27% to 40%, and the percentage saying immigration creates jobs rising 10 points from 22% to 32%.’