IMMIGRATION is becoming a growing concern among Scots, a poll has suggested.
The survey by the David Hume Institute and the Diffley Partnership has shown more than one in five Scots (21%) now feel immigration is a top-three issue facing the country – a rise of 5% from the figure recorded in May, according to The Scotsman.
However, cost of living and healthcare still remain higher priorities, according to the “Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker”.
The poll suggests immigration now ranks above the economy and trust in politics as a priority.
It would imply a possible shift in the mindsets of some Scots. An Ipsos survey done for STV at the start of last month showed the Scottish public did not rank immigration as a top 10 priority, with the likes of housing and care for older and disabled people ranking above the subject, along with healthcare and inflation.
Scott Edger, senior research manager at the Diffley Partnership, said: “Healthcare and the cost-of-living remain the top public priorities, but the rise of immigration as a leading concern marks one of the clearest shifts we have seen in recent waves of data.
“With Scottish Parliament elections on the horizon, political leaders will be alive to these underlying changes in public sentiment as they shape their pitch to voters.”
While it is evident immigration is becoming a growing concern, polling expert Mark McGeoghegan has urged people against concluding immigration is “top priority” among most Scots.
He posted on Bluesky in response to the Scotsman front page: “While concern about immigration is on the rise in Scotland, as measured in various ways, this headline is a wee bit misleading. Diffley Partners found that the % picking immigration as one of their top three issues facing the country grew by 5 points v. May, to 21%. It's not their top priority.
“The ‘pick three of this list of issues’ approach is a valid approach to measuring issue prioritisation, but it isn't close to being the most sophisticated and isn't as accurate a measure of top-of-mind concerns people have as e.g. asking an open-ended question.
“So, while I don't doubt the data itself in any way, I'd be cautious about generalising claims about how important immigration is to Scottish voters based on it.”
The poll also found 71% of Scots expect the economy to worsen in the next year, and 67% say conditions have already deteriorated over the past 12 months.
A further 53% have reduced all but essential spending, and 51% have had to cut back on leisure activities.
Three in 10 said financial stress was harming their mental health, and one in six said this was putting a strain on their relationships.
When it comes to savings, the tracker found 35% of respondents could not save because their income only covered essentials.
The survey has been published as the UK Government announced it plans to overhaul the asylum appeals system to try and cut the number of migrants staying in hotels.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said a new independent body would be created. She said she hoped this would stop “unacceptable delays” when those who have their asylum application turned down decide to appeal.
It takes just over a year on average for an appeal to be heard, with 51,000 cases waiting for a decision.
While this happens, asylum seekers are accommodated in migrant hotels at the taxpayers’ expense.
On Saturday, a group called Abolish Asylum System held a protest outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Perth, carrying banners that read “Perth is full - empty the hotels” and “get them out”.
A counter-protest by Perth Against Racism was also heard, with opponents holding banners that said “no to racism, refugees welcome”.
Councillor Grant Laing, leader of Perth and Kinross Council said he was saddened by the anti-migration protests, stressing everyone should be treated with “respect and humanity”.
