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UK MPs Intensify Hostile Immigration Rhetoric Amid Brexit

2/25/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A recent analysis found UK MPs now use more hostile immigration language than in the past century.
Over the last five years, Labour and Conservative MPs intensified discourse to appear tough on immigration, amid the Brexit referendum.
The share of immigration speeches rose from 1% in late 1990s to 5.4% by 2023.
The analysis, covering speeches from 1925 to 2025, used a machine learning model and implies hardening debate.

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Story summary

A recent analysis found UK MPs now use more hostile immigration language than in the past century.
Over the last five years, Labour and Conservative MPs intensified discourse to appear tough on immigration, amid the Brexit referendum.
The share of immigration speeches rose from 1% in late 1990s to 5.4% by 2023.
The analysis, covering speeches from 1925 to 2025, used a machine learning model and implies hardening debate.