London, United Kingdom, June 19, 2023 —  This World Refugee Day, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has released new data revealing that 65%* of the UK public think it’s important that the right to seek asylum is maintained in the UK.  

This comes as the Government’s proposed “Illegal Migration” Bill threatens to effectively remove the right to seek asylum in the UK.  

New polling carried out by the IRC and YouGov in June 2023 reveals that 67%** of the UK public would want to be able to choose which country they sought asylum in if they had to flee the UK. In an accompanying film, members of the British public shared that they “would do whatever it takes" to reach a country they could securely re-build their life in. Many members of the public found comfort in knowing that they would be able to seek asylum in their chosen country if they needed to.   

The new data reveals that the most important considerations when choosing where to flee to include the government’s respect for human rights (38%) and which languages are spoken in the country (37%), factors which refugees often cite when seeking asylum in the UK. Other factors important to British people were revealed to be social attitudes (19%) and the presence of family members in the country (17%), demonstrating that these values are shared.  

Far from being ‘asylum shoppers’, as often condemned by politicians, those fleeing conflict and crises often have particular reasons they are seeking safety in the UK, just as we would have particular reasons for where to seek safety if we needed it.  

With no safe way to seek asylum in the UK from outside the country, currently many desperate people are forced to make dangerous journeys across the Channel as the only way to claim asylum. The majority of new arrivals are from countries where conflict, violence and persecution are rife, and their asylum claims are likely to be successful. Last year, half of the people arriving on small boats were from just five countries: Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Eritrea and Iran. Under the proposed legislation, these people will be prevented from claiming asylum based solely on how they arrive here. Instead of being offered sanctuary, people fleeing conflict and persecution would be detained and removed from the country with no hope of return.  

Together, this polling and film demonstrate that the proposed legislation is in stark opposition with how the British public would like to treat refugees and asylum seekers, and how they would like to be treated in the same situation. This legislation denies protection to many people fleeing war and persecution who are in need of safety, and goes against what the majority of the British public want.  

 Laura Kyrke-Smith, UK Executive Director at the IRC, said:   

“Despite what the title of the “Illegal Migration” Bill suggests, seeking asylum is an established right under international law that should be available to all those who need it. Our new polling demonstrates that the British public thinks it’s important to maintain this right and continue to offer sanctuary to those who need it.    

"For decades, this right has offered hope and protection to people who have been forced to flee their homes under unimaginable circumstances, and currently three quarters of those who arrive on small boats and seek asylum in the UK go on to be recognised as refugees.      

"If the Bill passes, people fleeing conflict and persecution would be detained and removed from the country with no hope of return. This undermines the Refugee Convention, which rightly establishes that protection must be based on the needs of the person, not their mode of arrival.      

"This World Refugee Day, we encourage the UK government and its politicians to consider the potentially devastating impact this legislation would have on the lives of those for whom asylum is a lifeline, and how they would like to be treated if they were in the same situation.   

"We hope they will demonstrate the same empathy, kindness and compassion shown by the majority of British people.”    
 

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,081 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 9th - 11th June 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). 

** All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,110 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 6th - 7th June 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).