Think Immigration 'Is Bad for Economy': Britons

According to a government-sponsored research report, more than half of Britons claim that immigration is bad for the economy.

The British Social Attitudes survey found that people who faced the toughest competition from migrants for jobs are more resentful towards them.

In 2002, only 43 percent of the population thought migrants harmed the economy.

According to the Daily Mail, now the figure is above half, at 52 percent, with nearly two thirds of lower paid and lesser skilled people deploring the economic impact of migration.

More than half, 51 percent, want immigration reduced by a lot, and, in total, three quarters want to see immigration cuts.

"While economically comfortable and culturally more cosmopolitan groups show little change in their assessments of the economic impacts of immigration, economically and socially insecure groups have become dramatically more hostile," British Social Attitudes survey said.

The survey found that English people are increasingly unhappy with the share of public spending soaked up by Scotland.

It said 44 percent of people in England think Scotland gets more than its fair share, more than doubled numbers in 2000.

More than a quarter, 26 percent of English people think Scotland should leave the UK, up from 14 per cent in 1997, the report said.

Source: ANI