Thanks for your earlier response to my post, el-pietro. I have no doubt that there are often racial undertones to the positions of 'Leave' voters, and that 'age' and 'higher education' are important variables here; however, 'age' and 'higher education' do not account for the 62 percent 'Remain' vote in Scotland. This is why I believe that 'immigration and asylum' may be over-emphasised to the exclusion of other variables. The following remarks are not directed towards you, specifically, rather to some of the comments that have followed yours.
I followed el-pietro’s lead and checked out the YouGov site. A survey carried out in mid-May 2016 asked participants to 'tick up to three' from a list of 'the most important issues facing the country at this time'. Overall, adults (not voters!) in Great Britain ranked 'immigration and asylum' (33%) second after 'health' (37%) and before 'the economy' (30%). A second question asked, which [three] of 'the following do you think are the most important issues facing you and your family?' The response was housing (32%), the economy (31%), health (27%), education (22%), tax (19%), family life and childcare (15%), the environment (13%), Europe (13%), immigration and asylum (10%), pensions (10%), transport (7%), defence and terrorism (6%), crime (4%), and so on.
These results lead me to posit that many British ‘Leave’ voters are not inherently racist, rather they are concerned about their own and their families’ standard of living. A large number of refugees into their country, cities, towns and villages would undoubtedly place a considerable strain on local resources, such as housing, and increase competition for jobs among low- and non-skilled workers. Consequently, wages could fall. Conversely, someone with a ‘higher education’ may feel less threatened and, instead, welcome immigrants from Europe and southwest Asia. Of course, some immigrants are highly educated and of immediate value; but language, qualification recognition and restricted markets make them less of a threat to the professional class.
What I’m saying is, don’t be too quick to judge a voting preference as irrational or in some way indicative of racism. These people’s concerns are valid, even if they express themselves in language that sounds piteously ignorant of the world and of other people. This language represents fear; fear that can be exploited. Governments would do well to address the primary concerns of these people before populist leaders offer them solutions that lower national living standards, have serious ramifications for the international political economy and, ultimately, undermine their futures.