Two-thirds of Britons blame the UK's immigration policy for the outbreak of riots across the country, a new poll has revealed.
A poll by Savanta has shown that more people think the recent unrest was about migration, rather than the Southport killings in July.
Voters were split on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's response to the disorder, with 49 per cent saying it went well, and 43 per cent claiming it went badly.
Discussing the findings on GB News, pollster and academic Matt Goodwin claimed that the figures suggest many people "do view the protests as being directly linked to the policy of mass migration" that's "defined the country for the last 30 years".
Matt Goodwin claims Britons 'don't feel safe in their own country' following mass protest
PA / GB News
Offering his verdict on the recent rioting and protests across the country, Goodwin said: "One of the arguments I made when the riots first started is that many British people, even though people in Westminster don't like to think about this, don't feel safe in their own country.
"The riots and protests were for many people, for nearly two-thirds in this survey, were about our broken borders and about the pace of change in the country."
Criticising Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's response to the protests, which he previously described as "far-right thuggery", Goodwin argued that the "underlying" concern of Britons was of migration and the impact on the country, which has also been reflected in opinion polls of the Labour leader himself.
Goodwin explained: "Immigration is now the number one issue in the country. It's above the economy, above the NHS, it's above crime. That's a remarkable thing given that we're in a very severe cost-of-living crisis. The NHS is collapsing and crime is visibly being bearing down on people.
Violence and disorder spread across the UK following the Southport killings in July
PA
"For the Brits to say, actually no, immigration is my top concern, it gives you a sense of where the public mood is."
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When asked about the various polls on Starmer amongst Britons, Goodwin revealed that his approval ratings have "collapsed since the election last month" just as Labour is "pushing the pedal" on mass migration.
Goodwin told GB News: "What I would argue is that Brits are becoming more concerned and more sceptical about immigration, at exactly the same time as Labour are now pushing the pedal down on mass immigration.
"I don't think the mainstream conversation about these disturbances has been accurate. I think, since these riots erupted, the blunt reality is many people no longer feel safe in Britain, and that is why they reacted."
When pressed on the impact of "far-right figures" such as Nigel Farage in government and the impact on the perspective of voters on the issue of immigration, Goodwin argued that Britons "need those figures in Parliament" because of the growing concerns.
Matt Goodwin says Labour's policy on mass migration is 'extreme'
GB News
Goodwin said: "Those figures are in British politics because of these widespread concerns over broken borders, mass migration and segregation in communities.
"People are not idiots, they can see what is happening to the country they love. They can see that they are now at risk of losing their identity, their culture and values, because of policies that have been taken by both the left and the right, which they never voted for."
He continued: "Brits never voted for what I would consider to be an extreme policy of mass immigration.
"Politicians are saying voters are extremists because they're protesting, I think many people feel the Labour government is being pretty extreme and pushing the pedal down on a policy that many people oppose."
