Authors: Sarah Kyambi and Rebecca Kay
MPS’ representative survey of attitudes in Scotland provides a detailed view of what people think of immigration and how that is changing.
Key Findings:
- Attitudes to Immigration in Scotland have become more restrictive. This continues a trend apparent since 2024. As in previous years however, views are less restrictive where questions are couched in more specific terms.
- The overall drift towards greater restriction masks a hardening of views on both sides of the immigration debate. This may indicate that there are fewer people holding more nuanced or uncertain views and who may be more open to persuasion in either direction on this issue.
- Social contact is a key factor. There is a clear relationship between the extent of social contact people have with immigrants living in Scotland and their views on a whole range of questions. Those who have no social contact are much more likely to hold negative or restrictive views. This should not however be interpreted as a simple causal relationship
- People’s views strongly correlate with voting behaviour demonstrating the more intense political contestability of immigration in Scotland. While views divide broadly along a growing left-right split, Reform UK voters often express significantly more negative views and preferences than those who support any other party, including the Conservative Party.
The survey was carried out between 1st- 4th February 2026 through Diffley Partnership’s ScotPulse panel. Number of respondents: 2,161.
The full report is downloadable using the link on the right
