Four in five Scots overestimate UK refugee numbers, survey finds

Four in five Scots (80%) overestimate the number of refugees in the UK, a new poll has suggested.

The survey from the Scottish Refugee Council and Survation reveals a gap between public perception and official statistics regarding asylum and refugee issues in the UK.

While the UK hosts less than 1% of the world’s displaced population, 63% of respondents believed the figure was much higher, with a further 17% of respondents believing the UK receives more than 20%. Only 13% accurately estimated the arrival figures.

More than three-quarters (77%) of respondents in Scotland say they have never met a refugee, with direct interaction identified by Survation as the strongest predictor of sympathetic attitudes.

The study also found many Scots overestimate the level of financial support available to people seeking asylum. Individuals living in catered asylum accommodation receive just under £10 a week for essential living costs.

While 23% of respondents correctly identified support as being between £10 and £49 per week, 53% believed the figure was higher. Around 13% respondents estimated weekly support at over £200.

On policy issues, the poll recorded that 54% of Scots support giving individuals the right to work while awaiting a decision on their asylum claim. Additionally, 61% agreed that child asylum seekers should be allowed to reunite with family members in Scotland.

The polling of 2,010 adults was released to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention, adopted on July 28, 1951, to establish rights for people fleeing persecution following World War II. The UK was among the first to sign the treaty.

The Scottish Refugee Council says current policies undermine those rights which “punish, rather than protect” refugees and people seeking asylum.

Sabir Zazai, chief executive of Scottish Refugee Council, said: “When disinformation and misunderstanding are rife, sticking to the facts becomes more important than ever.

“Our polling shows a huge gap between assumptions and reality. This can be bridged by bringing communities together for open conversations. It also requires accuracy, sensitivity and the responsible use of language from our politicians and in the media.

“The 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention is a timely reminder of Scotland’s proud history of welcoming refugees and of the friendships, families and communities that have been built over generations.

“People who arrived here seeking safety are now our friends, colleagues, neighbours and proud Scots.

“It also highlights a universal truth – we all want the same things: safety, dignity, and the best for our families.”

Nataliya Lyalyuk, manager of St Mary’s Ukrainian School, said: “The Refugee Convention represents hope, dignity and protection for people who have lost everything. Before the war in Ukraine, I had a respected professional career, three university degrees, a loving family and a home.

“In 2022, the war changed everything. I arrived in Scotland with just one suitcase, my children and my mother, determined to rebuild our lives from the beginning.

“The survey results remind us that many people have never had the opportunity to meet a refugee. When they do, they discover that refugees are teachers, doctors, lawyers, parents and neighbours – people who want to contribute, work hard and give back to the communities that have welcomed them.

“Upholding refugee rights means giving people the chance not only to survive, but to rebuild their lives with dignity, hope and purpose.”