Are Scottish people worried about immigration in the same way that English people are?

[Grace040712]

Everyday, day time TV shows are filled with topics of immigrants but in my day to day life (living in Scotland) I don't notice immigrants, I don't feel they are stealing jobs or living off benefits any more than any other group in society. Perhaps it's just where I live but I'm interested, are Scottish people as concerned by immigration as they are down south?

In my view, and experience, no. I live in the central belt, so technically a busy part of Scotland - no issue with immigrants that I have ever seen. We have quite a few (I know from my work), but we, and they, just get on with it as far as I can see. No dramas.

I think most people are welcoming to newcomers tbh. I live in London where there are many people who either migrated here themselves or their parents/grandparents did and nothing about that “worries” me at all. I always assumed that those panicking about migrants don’t know many personally but I could be wrong.

I think it depends who you ask. There are some people for whom appearing more progressive than the English is very important but there are also Reform supporters and Brexit voters in Scotland. Any significant change in population make- up in future is likely to harden some people’s attitudes, after all there are parts of Scotland where people moving up from England and pushing up property prices already causes resentment.
TLDR: Scotland’s progressiveness is rather overstated IMO

The population of Scotland is actually falling, unlike England, so it makes sense immigration is experienced differently. It's also on a much smaller scale. The level of immigration is so so so much smaller and slower. I think once it hits turbo levels like it has in England (or in a more comparably sized country, Ireland) then it will become politically salient.

I'm not taking a position here on immigration right or wrong I'm just offering some reasons for the difference in political salience. I'm sure we could offer plenty more.

Well there are hardly any immigrants in Scotland so I wouldn't have thought people would be worried!

In London it's a way of life, as in most major cities, and we just get on with it.

We have so many people from around the UK and the rest of the world - some people worry about this, but most of us don't.

I'm not but my mother who lives 100 miles away is. She believes all the scare stories in the sleazepapers!!!!

I think it depends who you ask and perhaps also where they live. This was in the news earlier this year. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/01/asylum-system-risks-damaging-social-cohesion-glasgow-city-council-warns

And there are plenty of racists in Scotland, just like elsewhere.

Clearly it depends where you live and how your life is impacted.
I would think in rural or affluent areas or big cities like London it's much less of a concern than if you live in Folkestone or Dover.

So no immigrant hotels in Scotland?

Not that I'm aware of! I find the concept really confusing. It's ok the news a lot but always England- never here

Hardly any immigrants in Scotland? Have you been in Edinburgh lately? What absolute nonsense.

There are immigrant hotels in Scotland. There is one in the town next to where I live in central Scotland. The residents get the blame on social media for many crimes that happen, whether they committed them or not.

I have also noticed more people of African origin as part of the workforce in the past few years - maybe since Breixit. They seem to be wearing tunics that suggest they work in nursing homes or as home carers. I am perfectly happy with this, but again there are unpleasant comments on social media about why they are "over here". They are filling jobs that many of the locals won't touch.

Many people in Scotland don't realise that immigration is controlled by UK Border Force - the devolved Scottish Government has no say.

We have an aging and declining population and we need immigration.

There are immigrant hotels in Glasgow ( one was in the news due to a suicide of a resident)probably elsewhere too but I don’t know the details) and there’s a big hotel being planned in Falkirk on an industrial estate, no bar or restaurant and all single rooms, locals are suspicious, the owner has other properties that house asylum seekers apparently.
my cousin works in Glasgow for an agency that finds housing for refugees.

I hope not because I’m an immigrant in Scotland and love it here, it’s my home away from home and I wouldn’t want to leave, but if it gets like England or Northern Ireland (where innocent people of my nationality had their houses set on fire during the recent “protests), then I wouldn’t want to stay. I do work and have never claimed benefits, and nor have any other immigrants I know, though I’m sure there’s a minority that do.

Well they’re not showing up on the shores of Scotland in small boats nor is the top name for boys in Scotland Muhammad so perhaps it’s that they don’t need to worry about it yet.

I don't know whereabouts you live but Scotland takes it's share of immigrants. It also has it's share of anti migrants the same as in England.

Where I live there are a lot of migrants. Legal or illegal I've no idea but a lot of the problems we have as locals, are still caused by the local population. Ironic eh.

Don't think English people are all worried about immigrants,I am not remotely worried about immigrants and live in England,it's all just propaganda nonsense.

47% of residents of London were born overseas compared with 10% in Scotland according to the last census. It's very different.

I think Scotland doesn’t have many illegal immigrants. Unlike England and now, Ireland. I expect Scotland will be the next port of call for hotels to house illegal immigrants. Or won’t be far away. You’ll probably see more about it then.

Yes ,there are three in the city I live in no issues.

Nonsense. I know of 3 within 3 miles of me in Aberdeenshire.

It’s been in the news quite a lot in Aberdeen if you care to look. Women followed while walking dogs by the beach ; one, that I know of, convicted rapist.

The Scottish government would like to think that we welcome everyone with open arms. But based on local news and anecdotes, we have issues with numbers of men not understanding cultural norms, as others do,

It does, each of the home nations takes a percentage including NI (based on population I believe but I might be wrong on that).

As a pp said problems in the city I live in are caused mainly by the local populace .

I don't think so. I live in an area with loads of visible migrants, plenty of asylum seekers and refugees, and it doesn't bother me one bit. I rarely hear of race-based issues and my daughter's school is incredibly diverse. People like to bang on about stealing jobs and housing but this area has long been disadvantaged with poor housing options and few jobs and immigrants aren't the cause of that.

I would only worry about the safety of the people coming in the small boats - what a life they must be fleeing for that to be their only option 💔.

I am not sure why it would be of concern that the number 1 boys name is Muhammed.