Educational attainment has been identified as the most significant dividing line in British political attitudes, particularly regarding immigration and societal diversity, according to a major new study. The independent National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has published findings showing a stark contrast in views between those with university degrees and individuals with lower-level qualifications.
The Educational Divide in Political Support
The comprehensive Demographic Divides report reveals that people with qualifications below A-level standard are more than twice as likely to support rightwing political parties compared to university graduates. This educational correlation remains strong even when accounting for other factors such as financial insecurity.
The report states clearly: "A person with no educational qualifications had around 2 times the odds of voting for either the Conservatives or Reform UK than someone with a university degree or higher. This is independent of other factors, including financial precarity, so those without a degree are more likely to support rightwing parties in the UK even after adjusting for their financial situation."
Researchers emphasise that educational background provides remarkably accurate predictive power for political alignment. "If one wanted to predict whether a person voted for parties of the right in the UK, knowing their educational background would give them a very good chance of making a correct prediction," the study concludes.
Contrasting Views on Diversity and Immigration
The research uncovers dramatic differences in how various educational groups perceive diversity and immigration issues. Among UK respondents with degree-level education or above, 65% believe that diversity strengthens society. This contrasts sharply with just 30% of those educated to A-level standard or below holding the same positive view.
When examining attitudes toward racial equality, 60% of university or college graduates in both the UK and US acknowledge that white people benefit from advantages that Black people do not have, describing this advantage as "a great deal" or "a fair amount." Only 30% of those with qualifications below A-levels in Britain share this perspective.
Immigration Policy Perspectives
The study reveals significant educational divides regarding immigration policy. In the UK, 55% of people with below A-level qualifications believe immigrants living in the country without permission should not be allowed to remain. This compares to 36% of degree holders who share this restrictive view.
Alex Scholes, a research director at NatCen, explains the broader implications: "Rightwing politics in the UK and the US are often compared, but our findings show they are built on different foundations. In Britain, education stands out as the most important dividing line, particularly on immigration and diversity."
Transatlantic Comparisons and Differences
While similar patterns exist in the United States, the research identifies crucial distinctions between the two nations. American college graduates show even stronger support for diversity, with 74% believing it strengthens society compared to 54% of those with high school education or less.
Regarding undocumented immigrants, 32% of US university graduates believe they should not be allowed to stay, compared to 40% of people educated to high school level or below.
The report notes: "Rightwing movements in both countries share a common difficulty in gaining support among those who have been through higher education and obtained a degree." However, the American political landscape demonstrates greater complexity, with factors including ethnicity, gender, financial precarity, and geographical location playing more substantial roles in predicting political support.
Scholes elaborates on these transatlantic differences: "In the US, support for the right reflects a much denser mix of identities, including ethnicity, religion, gender, age and economic insecurity. These differences help explain why political polarisation looks and feels different between the UK and US."
The research confirms that education divides attitudes on race, diversity and immigration more strongly in the UK than across the Atlantic, establishing educational background as the primary predictor of political and social attitudes in contemporary Britain.
