Poll exclusive: 'Nasty' Ukip still most trusted on immigration

The ComRes/ITV News poll found a quarter of the public see Nigel Farage as a strong leader. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Ukip remains Britain's most trusted party to control immigration despite being seen as "nasty" and increasingly racist by voters, a ComRes/ITV News poll has found.

More than a third of Britons (36%) back Ukip to control immigration, well ahead of the Conservatives (19%), Labour (14%) and the Lib Dems (4%).

Yet a similar number (37%) label the party as being "nasty", a 5% rise from polls in October and 10% higher than the Tories (27%).

And 44% of people interviewed agreed with the statement that Ukip are a racist party, compared to 36% who disagreed - a sharp rise of 12% on the most recent figures.

A total of 2,059 British adults were interviewed online between February 20 and 22, with what could be telling results in the lead up to the General Election.

More than half think immigration has a negative impact on the NHS (55%), while 40% say it has a negative impact on the economy.

However, Britons are also mostly likely to say immigration has no impact on their ability to find their job (44%) or upon themselves personally (51%).

Despite a decrease of seven points since October, a quarter of the public say Nigel Farage is a strong leader (25%), second only to David Cameron (37%).