Over half of under-30’s agreed that immigration has changed their communities for the better, with 32% disagreeing, data from the John Smith Centre shows.
Immigration has been the hot topic of British politics for decades, with some political parties even building their campaign on stopping people crossing the channel.
This John Smith report shows that it may be the older generation concerned with the negative impacts of immigration, with 51% of those under 30 holding positive views.
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) director of communications Ravishaan Rahel Muthiah said: “This is a difficult time for young people.
“With so much misinformation about people who move, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.
“It’s heartening to see that, despite this, a majority still see immigration as a good thing.
“In London especially, young people have grown up alongside friends, neighbours, and families from all over the world.
“Our communities are richer, more dynamic, and more resilient as a result.
“Our diversity is what makes this city great, and there’s hope in seeing that the next generation can see that.”
Education level was a significant factor for this response.
Of those with a degree-level qualification, 63% of them agreed on the positive impact of immigration on their community, dropping to 43% among respondents without a degree.
The same sentiments were backed up in The Migration Observatory review at the start of this year, with older people much more likely to say that immigration is bad or very bad than younger people.
Furthermore, the Migration Observatory’s review continued the theme of those with a university degree celebrating immigration more than those without.
Only 7% of those with a university degree classed immigration as ‘very bad’ compared to 22% of those without a university degree.
London is a hotbed for immigration and continues to be one of the most diverse places in the UK, with 40% of Londoners being foreign-born and 300 languages being spoken across the city.
Hackney Migrant Centre (HMC) CEO Becky Moore said: “A negative attitude towards immigration is not a natural consequence of growing older, but prolonged exposure to anti-immigrant rhetoric, that seeks to scapegoat migrants for policy failings, fosters division.
“Hackney is all the richer for its diversity, and our lived reality at HMC is one of collaboration, resilience, and mutual support.
“Migration is not a threat, it’s the lifeblood of our local communities’ histories and futures, and something worth celebrating.”
Many migrant centres across London are, however, facing financial pressure, leaving them to fundraise to sustain their work supporting those who seek their help, according to HMC.
Picture credit: Belterz
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