New Data on Attitudes to Immigration in Scotland: What Does Scotland Really Think?

The insights from the Migration Policy Scotland Attitudes to Immigration Survey underscore the complexity and variability of public opinion on immigration in Scotland. This newly available data source, which encompasses a wide array of socio-economic and geographical variables, serves as a significant resource for researchers, academics and policymakers studying immigration issues in Scotland, the UK, and beyond. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering informed debate and developing effective immigration policies. Finally, not only is Migration Policy Scotland providing an important service by filling this gap in the empirical data, but their messaging on the survey, which has garnered significant media interest, helps drive the debate in Scotland beyond the usual headlines and the divisiveness of the rhetoric on immigration we see more commonly in British political debate and the media.