Does immigration matter to the election in Scotland?

Using data from 2017, attitudes in Scotland, when comparing the same survey answers in England and Wales, found similar attitudes.

In Scotland, more people believed immigration was good for the British economy than believe it is bad, by 47% to 17%. The figures for England and Wales were very close.

In Scotland, 43% of respondents to the Social Attitudes Survey thought immigration enriches British culture, and 20% thought the opposite.

The picture in England was again similar, with 43% believing immigration has a positive impact upon British culture and 23% seeing it negatively.

Last month, Migration Policy Scotland, which has a favourable view of ‘well-managed migration’, published its survey findings, external.

This suggested that 42% of Scots would prefer to see a reduction in immigration to Scotland, and 31% say it should be raised – reversing the position with the first such survey, published last year.

A majority – 53% – say those who come to Scotland should be given longer to remain and integrate.

In 2021, an opinion survey, external asked which government should have control over immigration: 41% answered Holyrood and 50% said Westminster.