Why are people voting against Labour on immigration?
Having just learned that (*edit, actual, not net) immigration was down 31% in 2025, returns and deportations up 9%, and that Labour pledged to "smash the gangs" behind small boats I am genuinely confused about how/ why this is happening, what am I missing?
This might sound like a biased question, but the fact that (disclosure) I see Reform's focus on immigration as a likely smokescreen does not mean that I have a position on immigration overall. I know that many successive governments have made loud noises about it for many years while also relying on it to shore up their version economics. I am not angry at individual people who have migrated to make a better life for themselves or escape war/persecution. That's my whole position. I'm not looking for an argument about immigration, as if we need more of those. I'm genuinely confused about these statistics that I've just learned (from another thread) vs people's anger at Labour on immigration. Is it founded in actual policy and facts, or is it just based on an image of the left as being somehow weak? If it's the latter, how do we get politics back to being based on actual outcomes rather than just angry reacts?
My confusion is how we seem to have just had a local government election dictated by a protest vote on immigration when the current government, frustrating as they are, are bringing down immigration. Should Labour have been putting up big posters with these stats on them in heartland areas with "next question?" after them if they wanted to hold onto voters? Or am I being hopelessly simplistic- about the issue or about how people think?