Majority of British people believe Windrush scandal has shone a light on deeper problems in immigration system, new poll reveals

Exclusive: Survey for The Independent suggests ongoing concerns among voters over the government's immigration strategy

More than half of British people believe that the Windrush scandal has shone a light on deeper problems in the immigration system, a new poll has revealed.

The exclusive survey for The Independent indicated that a majority also want an inquiry into the debacle, which saw British citizens wrongly threatened with deportation by immigration officials.

Immigration remains a divisive issue as large numbers of people still believe the UK has a serious problem with illegal migrants, with some 40 per cent showing support for “hostile environment” policies blamed for the scandal.

The BMG poll also cast doubt on hopes that Amber Rudd’s resignation would draw a line under the fiasco, as twice as many people hold Theresa May responsible for the policies than blame the former home secretary.

It comes after protesters descended on Downing Street to call for Ms May to resign, where shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told activists: “When it comes to the Windrush scandal, all roads lead back to Theresa May.”

The row began when it emerged that some Windrush immigrants – who moved to the UK between 1940s to 1970s – had lost their jobs, been refused medical care or been threatened with deportation as they did not have the right documentation.

Hundreds of British citizens appear to have been caught up in the row, which also overshadowed the recent Commonwealth summit in London and forced the prime minister to make a grovelling apology to Caribbean leaders.

Ms May’s time at the Home Office has also come under scrutiny, where she introduced the hardline “hostile environment” policies blamed for the aggressive targeting of Windrush citizens, many of whom travelled to the UK as children and never received passports.

The poll asked 1,500 people a string of questions on immigration and the Windrush scandal in the days following Ms Rudd’s decision to stand down.

Some 56 per cent said they felt the Windrush scandal highlighted wider problems with the British immigration system, while 26 per cent believed it was an isolated incident.

The majority backed an inquiry into the government’s handling of the scandal, with 58 per cent in favour and just 11 per cent against the idea.

However, the poll also suggested support for a tough stance on illegal immigration, as 40 per cent backed policies which amount to “hostile environment”, such as preventing those in Britain illegally from getting a job, renting a home or accessing medical treatment without the right documents.

Some 38 per cent said they explicitly wanted illegal immigrants to face a “hostile environment” in Britain.

The survey showed that 30 per cent of people lay the blame for the debacle at Ms May’s door, while 15 per cent blame Ms Rudd.

Ministers hope that the appointment of Sajid Javid as Ms Rudd’s successor could draw a line under the row, after Ms Rudd dramatically stood down last week over her handling of immigration policy.

Mr Javid, who is the first BAME home secretary, used his first outing before MPs to disown the term “hostile environment” and to pledge to do right by the Windrush generation.

He told the Commons: “Like the Caribbean Windrush generation, my parents came to this country from the Commonwealth in the 1960s.

“They too came to help rebuild this country and offer all that they had.

“So when I heard that people who were longstanding pillars of their community were being impacted for simply not having the right documents to prove their legal status in the UK, I thought that it could be my mum, my brother, my uncle or even me.

“That’s why I am so personally committed to and invested in resolving the difficulties faced by the people of the Windrush generation who have built their lives here and contributed so much.”

Home Office officials have received more than 3,800 calls to the official helpline, with around 1,360 cases identified as potential Windrush cases, MPs were told.

BMG interviewed a representative sample of 1,500 adults living in Great Britain between 1 and 4 May. Data are weighted. BMG are members of the British polling council and abide by their rules