Migration fears outweigh concerns over exclusion from free market, says poll

British people are more concerned over migration than the UK’s access to the single market, according to survey by Survation for ITV.

Over half of the adults surveyed felt more on edge about the inflow of foreigners than losing free trade privileges.

Aside from the City of London fretting over the prospect of losing its passporting rights to trade in Europe, the rest of the country’s main concern is immigrants stealing their jobs and lowering their pay.

The findings support the Prime Minister Theresa May’s “hard Brexit” strategy that prioritises control over the borders over free trade rights. Out of the respondents 58% said they approve May’s handling of the separation with only a quarter disapproving.

Migration levels have frequently been cited as tone of the main reasons for the referendum result. Since then the government has pledged to reduce migration numbers to below 100,000.

The survey also showed that the decline in the value of the pound, by 18% since the vote, does not waver support from the British people to leave the EU.

If a second referendum was to take place the difference between “Leave” and “Remain” voters stands at 1% with 47% sticking to “Leave” and 46% voting “Remain” with 7% undecided.

However not all surveys point to May’s policy being in tune with public sentiment. Last week a poll showed more in favour of single market access than immigration limits.