A recent poll reveals that discussing immigration is considered a touchy subject for British families during their Christmas gatherings. Many families prefer to steer clear of topics such as politicians, the economy, and religion while enjoying their festive Christmas dinner.
According to new findings from Public First, 43% of people wish to avoid conversations about immigration during the holiday season, ranking it as the top subject to dodge, ahead of discussions about politicians (39%), the economy (35%), and religion (33%).
The inclination to sidestep discussions on immigration is notably strong among older individuals, with over half (51%) of those aged 55-64 expressing intentions to avoid the topic during Christmas, the highest among all age groups.
The trend of avoidance spans across various political affiliations, with Liberal Democrat voters (48%) being the most inclined to steer clear of the immigration discourse, followed by Green voters (47%) and Reform voters (45%). A significant portion of Labour voters (42%) and Tories (39%) also stated their intention to avoid discussing immigration during the holiday festivities.
Recent years have seen immigration emerge as a divisive issue, with incidents like protests outside asylum hotels and anti-immigration riots in response to events such as the Southport stabbings contributing to the heightened sensitivity surrounding the topic.
Furthermore, the survey conducted by Public First highlights that nearly one-third (32%) of young individuals are likely to engage in arguments with family members during Christmas gatherings.
Seb Wride, a partner at Public First and head of opinion research, noted the stark contrast between the conversations held by politicians and the media versus those preferred by the general public during their holiday meals. While individuals are becoming more vocal about their views on immigration in public settings, these discussions have not yet transitioned to family gatherings, indicating a disconnect between public sentiment and private dialogue during the festive season.