NatCen Report: UK Public Holds Tougher Stance on Immigration Than US, Despite Social Liberalism

UK Public's Stance on Immigration and Diversity

A new report published today by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) reveals a nuanced picture of public attitudes in the United Kingdom, indicating a tougher stance on immigration and diversity compared to the United States. This finding challenges the common perception that Britain is uniformly more socially liberal than America.

The research, the first in a new series comparing public attitudes across the two nations, highlights that 42% of people in the UK believe immigrants living in the country without permission should face legal efforts for deportation, a figure higher than the 33% in the US who hold this view. Furthermore, only 49% of the UK public consider the nation's openness to people from around the world essential to its national identity, significantly lower than the 63% in the US.

On the issue of diversity, the report found that approximately half (49%) of the UK public agree that diversity strengthens society, whereas nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans share this sentiment. The study also noted that 40% of people in the UK perceive a decline in the White population's share as detrimental to society, compared to just 22% in the US.

Contrasting Social Liberalism

Despite the more conservative views on immigration, the report confirms the UK public's generally more liberal outlook on various social issues. For instance, a substantial 92% of people in the UK believe that widely available contraception is beneficial for society, compared to 78% in the US. Similarly, 59% of the UK public view legal same-sex marriage positively, a figure considerably higher than the 34% recorded in the US.

Alex Scholes, a research director at NatCen, commented on these findings, stating, 'The idea that Britain is more socially liberal than America doesn't hold up across all issues.' He further explained that 'While the UK is clearly more liberal on questions to do with family, sexuality and religion, attitudes to immigration and diversity show the opposite pattern.'

Political Alignments and Government Role

The NatCen research also delved into political alignments, noting that voters for Reform UK in Britain exhibit a tougher stance on immigration than supporters of Donald Trump in the US. Approximately 79% of Reform followers believe immigrants without permission should not be allowed to stay, compared to 70% of Trump supporters. However, Reform voters tend to hold more liberal positions on social issues such as abortion and contraception than their American counterparts.

Regarding the role of government, the report indicates that 67% of people in the UK favour a larger government that provides more services, in contrast to 48% in the US. Additionally, the UK public shows greater support for free trade agreements, with 65% in favour, compared to 39% in the US.

Conclusion

The NatCen report underscores significant divergences in public opinion between the UK and the US, particularly concerning immigration and diversity. While the UK maintains a more liberal stance on many social issues, its public holds notably tougher views on immigration, challenging simplistic comparisons of social liberalism between the two nations. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of social and political attitudes shaping public discourse in both countries.