Immigration and National Identity: A Debate on the Future of Britain

Immigration has become one of the defining, and most divisive, issues in British public life.

Some see it as a source of economic dynamism, cultural enrichment, and global relevance. Others see it as a driver of rapid social change, rising pressure on public services, and a challenge to national cohesion.

This episode of The Flip Side Podcast, chaired by Ada Akpala, features a frank and at times tense exchange between two voices on opposing sides of the UK immigration debate.

Panellists:

• Jonathan Portes, economist and longtime defender of liberal immigration policies, argues that migration brings prosperity, productivity, and fiscal benefit to the UK.

• Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, believes mass immigration has led to social fragmentation, economic strain, and widespread public disillusionment.

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