Recent research points towards public concern with immigration as one of the key drivers behind voting patterns such as those evident in the UK referendum on EU membership (Brexit). We put forward patterns of attachment to national identity, namely ethnic (Englishness) v civic (Britishness) differences, as a key factor that can help us better understand why immigration is an important area of concern for so many people, but much less so for others. In support of this premise, our findings first illustrate how patterns of attachment to national identity shape differences in how individuals feel in terms of their subjective well-being when faced with rising inflows of migrants into their local area and second how they respond politically as evident by whether they are in favour of the UK withdrawing from the EU. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of invisible differences between people in shaping public opposition to immigration.

https://zoom.us/j/96832429125?pwd=c0pybUZ5Ym1zTFJZQ1Y5OWI2Ymt1Zz09