A new study from the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) reveals that educational background is the strongest predictor of attitudes towards immigration, diversity, and political affiliation in the UK. People with qualifications below A-level are more than twice as likely to support right-wing parties such as the Conservatives or Reform UK compared to those with a university degree, even after accounting for financial circumstances.
The report, titled Demographic Divides, found that 65% of degree holders believe diversity strengthens society, compared to just 30% of those with A-levels or below. On immigration, 55% of less-educated respondents think undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to stay, versus 36% of graduates. Similarly, 60% of graduates in both the UK and US acknowledge that white people benefit from societal advantages over Black people, while only 30% of less-educated Britons agree.
In the US, the study found a similar but less pronounced pattern: high school graduates were twice as likely to support Donald Trump over Kamala Harris in 2024 as college graduates. However, US political divides are also shaped by ethnicity, gender, location, and financial insecurity, making the educational divide less dominant than in the UK.
Alex Scholes, research director at NatCen, said: '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.'
