Poll reveals 'manufactured panic' over immigration as local concerns diverge from national narrative

2 days ago7 min read

A striking divide between national rhetoric and local reality is reshaping Britain's political landscape, with new polling revealing immigration ranks as a primary concern for just 26% of Britons in their local areas—a figure that more than doubles when respondents consider the national picture. The YouGov survey, published as Reform UK secured two council seats from Labour and an independent group in Thursday's byelections, exposes what one charity describes as a 'manufactured panic' being leveraged for political gain.This dramatic discrepancy highlights how political campaigns are successfully weaponizing immigration as a national issue, despite its relative absence from most constituents' daily concerns about schools, healthcare, and infrastructure. The strategy appears to be paying dividends for parties like Reform UK, whose focused campaign on immigration helped them achieve electoral breakthroughs in local contests that would traditionally be decided by community-specific issues.Political analysts note this approach mirrors tactics seen during the Brexit campaign, where perceived threats often outweighed local realities in driving voter behavior. The result is an increasingly fragmented political discourse where national anxieties dominate voting decisions, potentially at the expense of addressing tangible local needs.As one strategist observed, 'The gap between what people experience and what they're told to fear is becoming the central battlefield of British politics. '.

#featured

#immigration

#UK politics

#local elections

#Reform UK

#YouGov poll

#council byelections