Immigration debate ‘fact-free zone’ as Reform UK warns of ‘invasion’
The survey of 1,000 people by Survation shows 53% of people believe the number of people arriving in the UK over the last year is higher than recent years – despite a fall
Reform chief Nigel Farage with his home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf(Image: Getty Images)
Reform UK and right-wing pundits are misleading voters over immigration, Labour donor and campaigner Dale Vince has warned.
It comes as new polling shows almost a third of people believe migrants crossing the Channel account for the largest share of people coming to live in the UK. In the year to September 2025, 51,000 people came to the UK via illegal routes, with small boats accounting for 89% of these. But this is against the backdrop of nearly 900,000 people coming to live in Britain in the 12 months to last June.
The survey of 1,000 people by pollsters Survation for Mr Vince ‘s Babelfish platform also shows 53% of people believe the number of people arriving in the UK over the last year is higher than recent years – despite a fall.
Provisional data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows 898,000 moved to the UK on a long-term basis, while 693,000 people left. This meant that net migration – the overall difference between arrivals and departures – was 204,000. The previous year it was 649,000. In 2022-23, under the Tories, net migration peaked at a far higher level of 944,000.
READ MORE: Nigel Farage accused of ‘cheap stunt’ after being ‘denied entry’ to Chagos IslandsREAD MORE: Reform candidate attacks elites while being paid to fly around the world to speak with them
Experts have previously warned that public perceptions about immigration are skewed yet on Monday Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf will hit out at an “invasion” and warn of a “national security emergency” at Britain’s borders. He will also call for “visa freezes” on Pakistan, Afghanistan and Syria if the countries refuse to take back migrants with no legal right to stay in Britain.
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
Campaigner Mr Vince said: “Our poll shows that the constant drum beat against immigration by right wing media and politicians – has gaslit the British public, who think immigration is still rising and that small boat crossings via the Channel are the main route. And who can blame them, right wing politicians and media are a fact free zone on Immigration. This is how they want it.”
He added: “But this toxic narrative could push us to further economic self-harm – if as a result we reach ‘net zero migration’ – as Farage argues for. This could create a £37 billion economic black hole and higher taxes for us all – something half the people in our survey did not want.
“Gaslighting is a favourite tool of manipulators – I call on [Nigel] Farage and [Kemi] Badenoch and all right wing media to stop the manipulation and start telling the truth on immigration.”
Mr Yusuf responded: “The British public are rightly furious about both spiralling legal and illegal migration, and yet the left continues to dangerously downplay the scale of the crisis facing our country.”
The survey also shows almost a half of voters – 48% – do not believe Reform UK is ready to run the country despite the party’s lead in national polls. Around 36% said they are while 16% said they did not know.
Mr Vince added: “While the gaslighting on immigration is clearly having an effect, the British public are not buying the Reform in No10 story – despite their high poll showings right now, most Brits think Reform are not able to govern and that Farage is incapable of representing us all.”
