Poll Reveals 'Manufactured Panic' on Immigration as National Concern Diverges from Local Reality

2 days ago7 min read

A stark divide in public perception has been exposed by a new YouGov poll, revealing that while only 26% of Britons see immigration as a major local issue, this concern skyrockets to over 50% when considered on a national level. A leading charity has characterized this dramatic disparity as a 'manufactured panic,' suggesting that a top-down political and media narrative is creating a national crisis that does not reflect the lived experiences of most communities.The political potency of this manufactured sentiment was demonstrated in a series of recent council byelections, where Reform UK successfully harnessed the national mood to win two seats—one from Labour and another from an independent group. This electoral success underscores a growing political strategy: leveraging a perceived, rather than locally felt, crisis to mobilize voters.The dynamic mirrors the Brexit campaign, where national fears often overshadowed local realities. The phenomenon creates a difficult dilemma for mainstream parties, forcing them to choose between challenging the narrative with complex data or adopting the same rhetoric to avoid being outflanked. The result is a political discourse increasingly detached from the tangible, everyday concerns of constituents, such as local service provision and economic stability, which are often overshadowed by a symbolic national debate.

#UK politics

#immigration

#YouGov poll

#local vs national concern

#Reform party

#council byelections

#featured