THE majority of Scots believe that immigration is too high in Scotland, a new poll has found.
The Find Out Now survey, run for The National from September 15-21, found that 58% of Scots think immigration is either “much too high” or “a little too high”.
The data comes from a series of polls commissioned by The National, carried out by Find Out Now, which included topics our readers wanted to ask the Scottish public, including a mandate for a referendum, Holyrood 2026 voting intention and views on the monarchy.
Only 11% of those polled, meanwhile, thought immigration in Scotland was either “much too low” or “a little too low” – and 31% say it it “about right”.
A sub-sample of the poll found that 71% of the age group 75+ believes immigration is too high, while 43% of the 18-29 age group said the same.
Tory voters at the last General Election are the most likely to think immigration is too high (79%), while Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters are both on 56% in support.
SNP voters are more favourable on immigration with just 27% believing it is too high.
These results come amid rising anti-migrant rhetoric in the media and in politics, particularly with the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Keir Starmer’s Labour Government combating said rise.
Today, the Prime Minister announced that anyone who wants to work in the UK will need to have a digital ID in a bid to deter people from coming to the UK by curbing their ability to earn money.
It also comes as Scotland is facing a population decline, one that could in part be stopped by more migration.
The last Scottish Census revealed, for example, that if it hadn’t been for migration, Scotland’s population would have declined.
Academics previously told The National that an ageing population, a low birth rate, and successive Westminster Government’s who are hostile to immigration, could pose an existential threat to the country’s future, particularly in rural areas.
Former first minister Humza Yousaf (below), meanwhile, said that the findings of the poll are not surprising.
"Over recent months it has become clear that Scotland is not immune from a rising level of toxicity in debate about immigration. Whether it be in public, online or in a political space it is evident there has been a rise in intolerance,” the SNP MSP told The National
“Much of this discourse has been driven by the dangerous rhetoric from politicians such as Nigel Farage, and legitimised by successive UK Governments, who seek to blame all of society’s problems on the most vulnerable. It is deeply ironic, but no accident, that the same politicians who championed Brexit were the architects of many of the problems they now seek to blame on immigrants.”
He added: “The truth is that Scotland needs immigration to help fix many of the issues we face with an ageing population - such as staffing our NHS, care services, and growing our economy.
“In such a hostile environment, it has never been more important that we continue to stand up to the dangerous rhetoric and misinformation which has become all too common.”
Emma Hutton, CEO of JustRight Scotland – a Scottish human rights charity – said Scotland has been on the “receiving end of a concerted campaign of misinformation and populist rhetoric”.
“It is political decisions like austerity and spending cuts that have caused the very real day-to-day challenges that many people experience when it comes to jobs, housing, public services and their sense of security,” she said.
“Successive governments and politicians made those decisions and who should be taking accountability instead of hypocritically attempting to shift blame. People who migrate to the UK bring benefits to everyone - socially, culturally and economically.”
Hutton added: “To get to a better place, we need to collectively stand up to this propaganda, call it out for what it is, and continue to stand for shared values like dignity, respect and common humanity.
“Immigration benefits us all and it can and should be characterised by fairness, compassion and opportunity. Not hatred and violence. You have more in common with a fellow worker from France or Palestine, than you do with a billionaire financier backing the far right's toxic discourse.
“Most people understand that Scotland is a better place for its history of being a place where people move to. And communities across Scotland have been vocal and active in their opposition to racist protests in recent weeks. That should give us all hope for a Scotland where people feel welcome, and where polls like this are a relic from the past."
Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie, meanwhile, said: “The hostile anti-migrant agenda being pushed by other parties, and by toxic people like Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson, does not stop at the border. Our country is not immune to hateful, divisive politics and that means we can never afford to be complacent.
“It is crucial that those of us who believe in the value of migration proudly make the case for it and talk about how it has enhanced our communities.”
He added: “We must be the Scotland of Kenmure Street, a country that sees value in migration and that supports our friends and neighbours, whether they have been here for days or decades.
“If the roles were reversed, I am certain that all of us would hope that other countries would be compassionate enough to help us and see our value as fellow human beings joining their community.
“We must challenge both the spread of misinformation and those political and media forces who blame migration for problems that have been caused by decades of failing Westminster governments and a broken political system.”
