Migration Policy Scotland Media

Building a better migration future for everyone.

Grounded in learning, lived experience, and the realities of migration in Scotland.

We improve insight and foster dialogue.

Recent Media

MPS Director Sarah Kyambi explains the evidence on Scottish attitudes to immigration and how they are changing in this episode of Currently on BBC Radio 4.

Billed as an investigation of “the Scottish dimension to one of the most contentious issues facing the UK – immigration”, this episode Scotland Wants You has Nick Eardley exploring: “the often contradictory narratives and perspectives surrounding immigration in Scotland. His journey will uncover whether Scotland’s reputation for openness aligns with current attitudes, or if this image masks deeper ambivalences – does the old Scottish adage, about inclusivity – “We’re all Jock Tamson’s bairns,” still reflect the country today?”

Scotland is becoming less tolerant towards immigration, its former first minister claims. 

Article by Nick Eardley, BBC Political Correspondent

 

“Sarah Kyambi from Migration Policy Scotland has overseen research on Scottish attitudes for the past three years.

The think tank holds regular surveys on the issue, and it heard from more than 2,300 people across all of Scotland in February last year.

Ms Kyambi said Scottish attitudes towards immigration were “cooling” and warned Scotland was becoming “complacent” when it comes to the country’s position on those arriving.

She said: “The idea that there is an inherent greater positivity amongst the Scottish public towards immigration is likely to be mistaken.

“More people want to see the level of immigration reduced than they did last year or the year before.

“That cooling is from a point when we first started the survey – a point when the largest cohort in our survey wanted to see an increase in immigration, but now the level of support for immigration reduction is increasing”.”

TV Interview with MPS Director Dr Sarah Kyambi for a programme featuring a special report and analysis on how tigher immigration rules are affecting the South of Scotland and whether immigration rules are set to change

Quotes:

“In Scotland we are seeing really rapid changing composition of migration, who is coming in, where they are coming from, the routes they are coming in under have all changed quite significantly. And that means we need to understand better our new migrant populations and move on from a story that had been for a long time predominantly those from the EU, particularly Central and Eastern European countries”

“Kier Starmer faces a challenge that most western democracies are currently facing which is: we know our demographies are ageing, we know our economies need migration, and, we know our publics are skeptical… Politics needs to address public concerns but it also needs to explain to the public immigration in the context of a much fuller argument around social, economic and demographic needs…to really build an understanding that we need to make the best of immigration. We are going to need it, it will have its challenges, but we could meet those challenges…that would be a job that the Prime Minister should try to tackle head on”

Media Coverage of MPS Attitudes to Immigration in Scotland Survey

To improve the evidence base on public opinion MPS commissions a representative survey on Scottish views of immigration. This provides insight infrastructure that supports work on migration across a wide range of stakeholders.

The survey findings have been cited in government reports, business publications and UK migration sector campaigns. It also attracts considerable media attention which is detailed below.

To improve the evidence base on public opinion MPS commissions a representative survey on Scottish views of immigration. This provides insight infrastructure that supports work on migration across a wide range of stakeholders.

The survey findings have been cited in government reports, business publications and UK migration sector campaigns. It also attracts considerable media attention which is detailed below.

Coverage of the 2024 Survey

The report on the survey is available here

The Times, May 13, 2024

Immigration is vital for Scotland to flourish in the future (Comment piece by Sarah Kyambi)

Contrary to Conservative talking points many people would be happy to welcome more migrants who come to work

Now, more than ever, is the time to embrace with greater ambitionthe role immigration must playi our economy and society to build a future where we all can flourish.

The Times, May 13, 2024

Scots cool on immigration as 4 in 10 want numbers cut

People in Scotland are still more pro-immigration that those south of the border but attitudes are changing, according to a survey

The National, May 13, 2024

Most Scots want more to see more skilled immigrants coming to Scotland

Dr Sarah Kyambi, the director of Migration Policy Scotland, said: “The socio-economic and demographic challenges facing Scotland are immense, and migration will play an important role in meeting these. Our research suggests that the Scottish public wish to see a pragmatic response to these real-world challenges at a time when our politics and policymaking is implementing an ever-more restrictive regime. This risks squandering the opportunity for more rational, evidence-driven consideration of migration policy in favour of inflaming division.”

While Professor Bobby Duffy, a director at the Policy Institute, added: “This survey shows the Scottish public are nowhere near as negative or exercised about immigration as the rhetoric often suggests, which is a pattern we see repeated in UK-wide surveys. That’s not to say that people see no downsides or don’t want more control – but more see the benefits and need for immigration, particularly to support the economy”

Business Insider, May 13, 2024

Most Scots believe employers should be able to recruit from abroad

The majority of people in Scotland believe employers should be able to recruit from abroad to fill vacancies, suggesting a “pragmatic” approach to migration. The Migration Policy Scotland Attitudes to Immigration Survey found support for migration has “cooled”, with 42% of those questioned supporting a reduction in the number of immigrants coming to Scotland, up from 28% in last year’s survey.

However, the research found widespread acceptance of the need for employers to recruit from abroad and strong agreement that immigration helps to fill jobs for which it is hard to find workers nationally and locally.

Yahoo News, May 13, 2024

Scots want more skilled people coming to Scotland from overseas, poll says

Ireland Live, May 13, 2024

Most Scots want to see more skilled immigrants arriving, poll suggests

Scottish Daily Express, May 13, 2024

Scots want less migrants in Scotland in shattering blow to SNP’s Scexit claims

The Times, 14 May 2024

Universities ‘will be hit hard’ by new UK migration rules

Coverage of 2023 Survey

Below is a summary of the coverage including an interview with MPS Director Sarah Kyambi on BBC Radio Good Morning Scotland. You can access the 2023 report here.

Good Morning Scotland (BBC) – [Radio interview with Sarah Kyambi] 

September 14, 2023 

The latest news from home and abroad, along with sport, travel and weather updates. 

The Times – [Opinion piece by Sarah Kyambi] 

A welcome change in immigration attitudes 

September 14, 2023 

The Migration Policy Scotland Attitudes survey asked 1,162 adults across Scotland their views on immigration. This is the first representative survey of attitudes to immigration in the country for nearly a decade. The findings are startling: with the largest group (38 per cent) in favour of increasing migration and only 28 per cent calling for a reduction. This reverses 2014 figures where 58 per cent wanted to see immigration to Scotland reduced. There is much to tease out within the new data to understand more fully what people think, let alone why they think it, and a need for longer-term tracking of Scottish public opinion on this topic. 

The Herald  

Poll: Two-fifths of Scots want to see an increase in immigration 

September 14, 2023 

Scots are “broadly comfortable” with migration and almost three-fifths believe it has a positive impact on the country, a survey has found. The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure. 

STV News 

Almost two-fifths Scots want to see immigration increased, poll finds 

September 14, 2023 

Scots are “broadly comfortable” with migration and almost three-fifths believe it has a positive impact on the country, a survey has found. The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure. 

The Times  

Scots are changing their views on immigration 

September 14, 2023 

Scots have changed their views on immigration with opposition to newcomers falling by almost 50 per cent in a decade, a survey shows. According to the report published today by Migration Policy Scotland only 28 per cent of respondents wanted lower immigration levels compared with 58 per cent in 2014. 

The National 

Majority of Scots view immigration as positive, poll finds 

September 14, 2023 

SCOTTISH people are “broadly comfortable” with migration and almost three-fifths believe it has a positive impact on the country, a survey has found. The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure. 

Glasgow Times

Two-fifths of Scots want to see an increase in immigration

September 14, 2023

The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure.

Holyrood

Government makes fresh call for immigration controls as census confirms ageing population

September 14, 2023

It comes after a report from Migration Policy Scotland, which was carried out by Diffley Partnership at the beginning of this year, showed that Scottish attitudes to migration are changing, with 28 per cent of respondents saying they want lower immigration levels compared with 58 per cent in 2014.

 

Rebecca Kay talks to FAI economist Hannah Randolph  about attitudes to immigration in Scotland and some potential immigration policy directions for both the UK and Scottish governments. We also take a look at findings from our new research on Financial Disadvantage in Low-Medium Income Migrant Households. Listen here

Media Archive

Watch an interview with MPS’ Rebecca Kay on James Cleverly announcement of changes to reduce UK immigration. 

Sarah Kyambi contributes to Radio Scotland Morning with Stephen Jardine phone-in on the latest immigration statistics.

Listen again on our YouTube Channel.

Sarah Kyambi contributes to Radio Scotland Morning with Stephen Jardine phone-in on the latest immigration statistics.

Listen again on our YouTube Channel.

Rebecca Kay talks to John Edward on research on migration and depopulation conducted for the Scottish Council on Global Affairs. On spotify here

This research was the focus of an MPS project and event – more information.

Edinburgh Museums: Symposium Exploring Current Perceptions of Migration, 31st August 2023

MPS Director Sarah Kyambi speaks at this symposium event to accompany Museum of Edinburgh exhibition ‘Local Foreigners: the human face of immigration’.

Watch the recorded symposium event here

MPS comment in The Scotsman, 5 February 2023

MPS Director contributes to this feature in the Scotsman on Sunday by Jane Bradley: “Immigration policy: How does Scotland and the UK compare to the rest of the world?”

BBC Documentary: Who Lives in Scotland?, 28 October 2022

MPS Director Sarah Kyambi provides commentary on migration in Scotland in this BBC Documentary. 

Presenter: Martin Geissler; Producer: Ross Harper

BBC Interview: Migration and Population, 1 September 2022

MPS Senior Researcher Rebecca Kay discusses migration’s role in mitigating population challenges on Good Morning Scotland

Centre for Constitutional Change Podcast, 1 July 2022

Listen to MPS Director, Sarah Kyambi, and Professor David Bell discuss the challenges migration raises for Scotland after Brext and Covid. Hosted by Nicola McEwen, this episode of Consitutionally Sound covers labour market and constitutional issues.

Common Weal Policy Podcast, 20 October 2021

In this Common Weal Policy Podcast episode, Craig Dalzell talks to Dr Sarah Kyambi, Director and Founder of MPS. They discuss the policy gaps in Scotland around migration, particularly outwith the areas of asylum and refugee migration, what Scotland is currently doing to close those gaps and where Scotland could be doing more.

WCPP Podcast: Post-Brexit migration and Wales, 15 January 2021

In this podcast from the Wales Center for Public Policy MPS Director, Sarah Kyambi, joins Prof Jonathan Portes, (King’s College London) and Llyr ap Garent, (Federation forSmall Businesses) in a discussion the likely impacts of post-Brexit migration policies and the options facing the Welsh government.