A report from the British Future think tank released on Monday showed that 63% of those polled support a cap on unskilled immigrants coming to Britain. A majority of voters want a cap on unskilled immigration into the UK after Brexit, but want skilled workers to be allowed to enter the UK at the same level as before, with 82% of Leave voters saying they are happy for high-skilled migration from the EU "to remain at current levels or increase”.

The research also reveals that 64% of all voters believe the Government should scrap its target of reducing net migration to the UK to below 100,000, and instead replace it with separate aims for skilled and unskilled workers.



Which unskilled immigrants do the Leave Voters want to see in the UK?

 

Brexit and immigration

British Future said that Brexit is the opportunity to "get things right on immigration" and that the vote was a "reset moment" that can be used to create a new system which has the support of the British public. 

Conservative MP Nicky Morgan and chair of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee said, "This research shows that the immigration debate is much more nuanced than it is often portrayed, that people do appreciate the benefits immigration can bring but it is also clear that a discussion on community cohesion and integration must sit alongside the wider immigration debate.”

 

Britain’s immigration policy might see reforms

Doctors, care-workers and fruit-pickers should be able to come to the UK after Brexit in at least the same numbers as they currently do, according to Leave voters. Leave voters want to put a cap on the unskilled migrants. They want to see fewer waiters and bar staff from the EU. Leave voters were mostly against migrants bringing extended family with them to the UK, with 75% wanting to see a decrease in these figures. 57% were also against immediate family coming to the UK as well.

 

The Government is yet to reveal which immigration system it will adopt post-Brexit, but Theresa May has already ruled out an Australian-style points based system. She intends to continue with the current freedom of movement rules.

Labour MP Stephen Kinnock said, "Leaving the EU will mean changes  in Britain’s immigration policy. Reforms are needed if we are to deliver the ultimate prize of a higher-wage, higher-skilled economy.”

 

The Director of British Future Sunder Katwal said, ”A new post-Brexit immigration system that differentiates between skilled and low-skilled EU immigration sounds like common sense to most people. They can see that we need doctors, engineers and other professionals but they want more control over low-skilled immigration. Even there, the public knows we need people to pick the fruit and veg, build more houses and care for the elderly.”

The polling in the report was carried out by ICM, who surveyed 3,657 GB adults, between 9-16 June 2017.