wo fifths of voters say the UK Government’s attempts to deport undocumented migrants to Rwanda will harm Britain’s global reputation, a new WeThink poll has found.

Pollsters at WeThink asked voters for their views after the Government published its Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill which would enable it to deport undocumented migrants to Rwanda and deter small boat crossings to the UK.

When asked if people agreed or not that the policy would damage the UK’s international reputation, 42% of voters agreed with only 28% disagreeing. 30% said it would do neither.

Voters were also asked if they agreed or disagreed that the policy made them think more favourably of the Conservative Party – 38% disagreed, 31% agreed and 32% said neither.

More than a third (35%) agreed that the Rwanda policy was important to them while 25% disagreed and 40% said neither.

Despite the policy being criticised by human rights observers and blocked by the UK Supreme Court, 39% of Brits agreed the policy was ethical, with 30% disagreeing and 31% saying neither.

In addition, 36% of Brits agreed the scheme is an effective deterrent to people trying to enter the UK illegally, with 31% disagreeing and 33% saying neither. 

WHATSAPP AND THE COVID INQUIRY

WhatsApp messages between senior government figures during the COVID pandemic were revealed during the Covid Inquiry this week. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson denied making a “factory reset" when he was asked about a technical report into a phone missing WhatsApp messages during the early stages of the pandemic.

WeThink asked voters if government ministers should be allowed to conduct political business over messaging apps such as WhatsApp:

• 68% no 
• 16% yes 
• 16% don’t know 

 ON VOTER INTENTION 

In our regular weekly voter intention trackers, Labour’s lead over the Conservatives bounced back by four to 20 this week; the Prime Minister clawed back five approval points to sit on –19 while Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer saw his net approval fall into the red for the first time... 

PRIME MINISTER APPROVAL

SIR KEIR STARMER APPROVAL

BEST PRIME MINISTER

BREXIT TRACKER (All respondents)

BREXIT TRACKER (excluding don't know / won't vote)

This week’s poll was conducted on 7th-8th December 2023, questioned 1,201 people and is weighted to a national representative population.

For all of WeThink’s polling results and news, visit: www.wethink.report or follow WeThink on the following social media platforms:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/wethinkpolling 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wethink_polling/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeThinkPollingUK 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wethink_polling 
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/wethink.bsky.social 
• Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@Omnisis 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/omnisis-ltd/