Thread by @sundersays

BSA on immigration. John Curtice reports that citizen deliberation somewhat depolarised views. Participants became warmer about economic and cultural impacts (Leavers shifted more) while those who voted Remain became more open to post-FoM controls
bsa.natcen.ac.uk/latest-report/…

Summary of changes

Good for the economy went from 61% to 70%, good for culture went from 64% to 69% after citizen deliberation.

Leave voters became more positive, with some narrowing of Leave/Remain perspectives.

I was a small part of this citizen engagement exercise. One section of it was John Curtice chairing a panel for participants put their questions about immigration, integration & future policy choices to a panel including Migration Observatory, Migration Watch & British Future.

Participants converged on managed/controlled migration (rather than FoM), as well as on pro-migration choices with control. Became more positive about social care in particular.

Deliberation has a modest, but stat significant, narrowing of national preferences. Reduces hesitancy about Polish & Pakistani migrants, compared to French & Australian migrants.

One reason that deliberation depolarisers is that the "balancer" majority gets heard. This may well make people more open to give & take across moderately liberal and moderately sceptical views (in contrast to perception of very polarised arguments)

https://twitter.com/UKandEU/status/1090227989449793537?t=JelQ5fUXDLSQ5sCxpLlFhw&s=19

#BSA38 webinar summary of findings of impact of deliberating on immigration. Tended to promote balancer, pro-migration and pro-control pragmatism.