London United Kingdom, August 10, 2026 — New YouGov polling commissioned by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) finds that 59% of Britons think too much attention is paid to how refugees arrive in the UK and not enough to why they are coming here.
The findings point to public appetite for a more constructive debate: one that recognises concerns about arrivals while also explaining the conflicts, persecution and crises that force people to seek safety, and the practical solutions that can make refugee protection work better.
The polling found:
- More than three quarters (76%) of Britons say it is important to distinguish refugees fleeing war, persecution or serious danger from the wider migration debate.
- 59% say too much attention is paid to how refugees arrive in the UK and not enough to why they are coming here. This view is reflected across political groups surveyed: 76% of Green voters, 72% of Labour voters, 72% of Liberal Democrat voters, 46% of Conservative voters and 43% of Reform UK voters agree.
- 63% of Britons are sympathetic towards refugees fleeing war, persecution or serious danger.
- 53% say they are proud of Britain's history of offering asylum to people fleeing war, persecution or serious danger, compared with 34% who say they are not proud.
The findings come ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention on 28 July and alongside a new IRC report warning that the global refugee protection system is under the most sustained pressure in its history.
The report - Protection Under Pressure - warns that, with more than 50 million people forcibly displaced across borders, the Convention has never been more needed. Yet its central promise — that nobody should be returned to danger — is being eroded by collapsing humanitarian funding, shrinking resettlement commitments and governments increasingly willing to turn people away.
The polling suggests many people in Britain want the national conversation to reflect the realities behind displacement, including the individual risks of conflict and persecution faced by people from countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea, and Iran. A clearer understanding of why people seek refuge can also support a more informed discussion of the solutions that work - from fair asylum decisions and safe routes to early integration support.
David Miliband, IRC President and CEO, said,
“The Refugee Convention was a promise, made in the shadow of one of the darkest chapters of history, that nobody fleeing persecution should ever be sent back to danger. That promise remains as vital today as it was in 1951.
“This anniversary is a moment to celebrate what the Convention has achieved, defend what works, and fix what doesn’t. We've seen what works: giving refugees legal certainty, investing early in integration, and sharing responsibility fairly. The question isn't whether solutions exist. It's whether governments will muster the political courage to implement them.”
Flora Alexander, IRC UK Executive Director, said,
“Too often, the debate on refugees in the UK begins and ends with how people arrive. This polling suggests the public wants a more constructive conversation — one that addresses why people are forced to flee, and focuses on solutions that work.
“When the public only hears about arrivals, numbers and pressure, the human reality of displacement is lost. That does not help people seeking safety, and it does not help the public understand how a fair and effective system can respond.
“The IRC works across the full arc of displacement - from emergency response in countries affected by crisis to helping refugees in the UK learn English, find work, recover and regain their independence. Our experience shows that practical support and early integration help people contribute to their communities and build new lives.”
The IRC is calling on the UK Government to properly resource fair, humane and well-functioning asylum and reception systems. This includes: investing early in integration support so refugees can work, learn and rebuild their lives; recommitting to international cooperation, including reversing cuts to humanitarian aid; and strengthening and expanding safe routes.
Flora Alexander continued,
“The Convention’s anniversary should be a moment to establish clearer understanding of why people seek refuge. It’s a moment to push for fair asylum systems, safe routes and integration policies that deliver better outcomes for refugees and communities alike.”
Shabana Mahmood’s reappointment as Home Secretary means she will continue to oversee the Government’s approach to asylum and refugee protection as it enters this new political chapter. The IRC is calling on the UK Government to properly resource fair, humane and well-functioning asylum and reception systems. This includes: investing early in integration support so refugees can work, learn and rebuild their lives; recommitting to international cooperation, including reversing cuts to humanitarian aid; and strengthening and expanding safe routes.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- About the research: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,165 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2-3 July 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 18+. The full dataset is available upon request.
- A separate journalist briefing is available with further background on the Refugee Convention, why people seek refuge in the UK, IRC’s UK programmes and common questions on displacement.
- About Protection Under Pressure: Published to mark the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, the policy brief draws on programme evidence across 40 countries to assess the state of global refugee protection and advance recommendations on asylum systems, durable integration and responsibility-sharing. The report can be found here: https://www.rescue.org/report/protection-under-pressure (embargoed to Thursday 16 July, 00:01 BST)
- About the IRC: The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and rebuild.
