Gigapoll: Britons Back Integration. The Data Is Clear

The poll proves what we know to be true: British people believe in multi-culturalism, integration and community.

All we want is to live in a peaceful and friendly environment, with good schools and healthcare.

We care about the people around us, like our neighbours, friends and colleagues, no matter where in the world they come from.

But this goodwill is being threatened by toxic narratives around immigration that do not represent us. Fear and division have been spreading across our country, fuelled by misinformation. This rhetoric doesn’t make our streets safer. It simply dehumanises people who have survived war and persecution, many of whom are survivors of violence.

People are pessimistic about how unified we can be as a country because of this rhetoric. But this rise in hatred isn’t who we are as a country. Our frontline teams work every day with men, women and children seeking to rebuild their lives in safety.

A number of these stood alongside our troops in Afghanistan or fled terror in Sudan. They want to move into proper housing, start work or training, and begin contributing to communities here in the UK. With proper reform, our asylum system can deliver on these vital values of fairness and compassion. But the Government must also respond to the public’s concerns about the rise of intolerance.

We know that there’s a demand for work that promotes Britain’s multicultural society and help people from different backgrounds connect.

It is time to take action to bring unity to some of our most divided communities.