100 years of MPs’ attitudes towards immigration
Sentiment scores calculated by analysing speech fragments about immigration from all Commons debates since 1925
Negative sentiment
Positive sentiment
Reform
Con
Labour
Lib Dems*
Green
2025
2025 Spike in immigration
and fierce debates over
small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
2000
2006 Debate centres
on EU free movement,
after more workers than
expected come to the UK
1975
1950
1925
Negative sentiment
Positive sentiment
Reform
Con
Labour
Lib Dems*
Green
2025
2020
All-time
high
2025 Spike in immigration
and fierce debates over
small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
2000
2006 Debate centres on EU
free movement, after more
workers than expected
come to the UK
1975
1950
1925
Positive sentiment
2006 Debate centres on EU free
movement, after more workers
than expected come to the UK
2020 All-time high
Green
Lib
Dems*
Labour
Negative sentiment
2025 Spike in immigration and fierce
debates over small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
Con
Reform
1925
1950
1975
2000
2025
Positive sentiment
2006 Debate centres on EU free
movement, after more workers
than expected come to the UK
2020 All-time high
Green
Lib Dems*
Labour
Negative sentiment
2025 Spike in immigration and fierce
debates over small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
Con
Reform
1925
1950
1975
2000
2025
Negative sentiment
Positive sentiment
Reform
Con
Labour
Lib Dems*
Green
2025
2025 Spike in immigration
and fierce debates over
small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
2000
2006 Debate centres
on EU free movement,
after more workers than
expected come to the UK
1975
1950
1925
Negative sentiment
Positive sentiment
Reform
Con
Labour
Lib Dems*
Green
2025
2020
All-time
high
2025 Spike in immigration
and fierce debates over
small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
2000
2006 Debate centres on EU
free movement, after more
workers than expected
come to the UK
1975
1950
1925
Positive sentiment
2006 Debate centres on EU free
movement, after more workers
than expected come to the UK
2020 All-time high
Green
Lib
Dems*
Labour
Negative sentiment
2025 Spike in immigration and fierce
debates over small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
Con
Reform
1925
1950
1975
2000
2025
Positive sentiment
2006 Debate centres on EU free
movement, after more workers
than expected come to the UK
2020 All-time high
Green
Lib Dems*
Labour
Negative sentiment
2025 Spike in immigration and fierce
debates over small boats and asylum
hotels fuel sudden drop
Con
Reform
1925
1950
1975
2000
2025