A POLL by Migration Watch has found that 67 per cent of people support the idea of advertising jobs in the UK before hiring workers from overseas. Some 58 per cent strongly oppose the policy allowing overseas workers to be paid salaries up to 20 per cent below the usual rate. A significant 48 per cent disagree with the policy permitting international students to stay in the UK for up to two years post-study without conditions (a policy reintroduced by the Conservatives in 2021). Migration Watch UK chairman Alp Mehmet says:’The public has spoken loud and clear – British jobs must be prioritised for British workers. The government simply can’t go on disregarding their interests.’
TCW Editor’s comment: ‘These are all questions that could and perhaps should be subject to referendum votes as the only way to bring decision-making and democracy back to the people over immigration policy.’
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The survey was carried out on November 29, 2023 by People Polling, for Migration Watch UK. The sample included 1,512 adults aged over 18 in Great Britain. Participants were sampled to meet Office of National Statistics quotas for gender, age, region, socio-economic group, vote in the 2019 general election, and vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
No criteria are used to over- or under-sample respondents. To ensure the polling is representative of the target population, People Polling used official data sources to match the sample to demographic population targets.
Polling questions
1. To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree with the following statement? ‘Jobs in the UK should have to be advertised in the UK before businesses can recruit workers from overseas to fill them.’
Strongly agree 39 per cent
Tend to agree 28 per cent
Tend to disagree 9 per cent
Strongly disagree 4 per cent
Don’t know 21 per cent
2. Workers who are recruited from overseas can be paid salaries up to 20 per cent below the usual rate if going into a list of specified jobs. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with this policy?
Strongly agree 7 per cent
Tend to agree 7 per cent
Tend to disagree 28 per cent
Strongly disagree 30 per cent
Don’t know 28 per cent
3. In recent years, international students have been able to stay in the UK for up to two years after completing their university studies without any conditions or even needing to have a job. To what extent, if at all, do you support this policy?
Strongly agree 8 per cent
Tend to agree 17 per cent
Tend to disagree 23 per cent
Strongly disagree 25 per cent