Immigration WAS the key issue for Brexiteers in the historic EU referendum battle, according to huge analysis of social media comments

  • Study of nearly three million Tweets carried out by team at Sheffield University
  • Tracked more than 80,000 users for six months before and after referendum
  • Found immigration mentioned far more by Brexit supporters than law or NHS

Immigration was the key issue for Brexiteers in the historic EU referendum battle, according to a huge analysis of social media.

A groundbreaking study of nearly three million tweets by a team at the University of Sheffield shows control of borders came up far more than sovereignty or the NHS.

It was mentioned 66,000 times by Leave supporters between June and November - with the overwhelming majority of the references coming before the vote on June 23.

By contrast Remain backers talked about the issue just 40,000 times. 

A groundbreaking study of nearly three million tweets by a team at the University of Sheffield shows control of borders came up far more than sovereignty or the NHS

A groundbreaking study of nearly three million tweets by a team at the University of Sheffield shows control of borders came up far more than sovereignty or the NHS

Immigration was mentioned 66,000 times by Leave supporters between June and November - with the overwhelming majority of the references coming before the vote on June 23. By contrast Remain backers talked about the issue just 40,000 times

Immigration was mentioned 66,000 times by Leave supporters between June and November - with the overwhelming majority of the references coming before the vote on June 23. By contrast Remain backers talked about the issue just 40,000 times

The findings also demonstrate how little attention was paid to the details of Article 50 - the formal mechanism for cutting ties with Brussels - before the referendum.

It was tweeted about just 750 times by those on either side of the debate.  

The research, highlighted by BuzzFeed News, identified 41,443 Leave supporters and 41,445 who were in favour of Remain based on their use of campaign hashtags. 

The team then tracked the Brexit-related issues those users tweeted about every day for six months.

The Leave backers sent twice as many messages about immigration as they did about sovereignty, laws, or the NHS.

Alongside border controls, the influence of European courts seems to have been a major issue for Brexiteers - who referred to the subject four times as many times as Remainers.

While there were only 753 tweets collected about Article 50 before June 23, it has come to the fore since.

On November 3 alone – the day the High Court ruled that Theresa May cannot trigger the process without parliamentary approval - it was mentioned more than 50,000 times.

Senior researcher Kalina Bontcheva said the analysis gave an insight into how voters responded to the frantic developments before and after the referendum.

She also pointed to the greater use Leave supporters made of social media in the run-up to the historic poll. 

'With only around 7 per cent of all tweets being replies and over 58 per cent retweets, this resembles more an echo chamber, rather than a debate,' Ms Bontcheva told Buzzfeed.

'It was interesting to see also that Leave supporters engaged significantly more in the debate through replies and retweets, i.e. made more effort to spread further their views.'

The research identified 41,443 Leave supporters and 41,445 who were in favour of Remain based on their use of campaign hashtags

The research identified 41,443 Leave supporters and 41,445 who were in favour of Remain based on their use of campaign hashtags

But the research also revealed that many Leave supporters avoided actively engaging in debate about the referendum and operated within an echo chamber where the majority of posts were retweets, with just a third being original and just 7 per cent were replies

But the research also revealed that many Leave supporters avoided actively engaging in debate about the referendum and operated within an echo chamber where the majority of posts were retweets, with just a third being original and just 7 per cent were replies

A graph of the research created by Buzzfeed shows immigration was mentioned 66,000 times by Leave supporters between June and November - with the overwhelming majority of the references coming before the vote on June 23. By contrast Remain backers talked about the issue just 40,000 times

A graph of the research created by Buzzfeed shows immigration was mentioned 66,000 times by Leave supporters between June and November - with the overwhelming majority of the references coming before the vote on June 23. By contrast Remain backers talked about the issue just 40,000 times

The analysis emerged as a poll increased pressure on Theresa May by suggesting Leave voters will not tolerate losing out financially.

Research by YouGov for the Open Britain campaign group found 51 per cent are not willing to be left a penny worse off as a result of cutting ties with Brussels.

The level rose to 59 per cent in the North - although a significant proportion were ready to take a hit if necessary to regain control over borders and law.  

The findings underline the scale of the challenge facing the Prime Minister as she prepares to launch negotiations with the EU.

Mrs May has repeatedly refused to give details of her demands, but insisted she can secure a 'Red White and Blue' Brexit tailored to the country's needs.

There has been intense lobbying from the City of London and other sectors to keep the UK within the single market.

A YouGov poll has found 51 per cent of those who voted Brexit do not think they should lose a penny from the new deal set to be negotiated by Theresa May  

A YouGov poll has found 51 per cent of those who voted Brexit do not think they should lose a penny from the new deal set to be negotiated by Theresa May  

There are fears that failing to do so would put at risk so-called 'passporting' arrangements for doing business on the continent - and possibly trigger an exodus of financial firms. 

But European leaders have made clear they are not willing to compromise on the principle that members of the single market must accept free movement of people within the bloc.

Ministers have stated that regaining control over immigration will be one of their red lines in the process to come.

A carelessly-carried note of a briefing captured by cameras in Downing Street last month described the government's approach as 'have cake and eat it'.

It suggests that Mrs May is preparing to play hardball in the looming talks, using the vital importance of the British market to the EU as leverage.

 

 

 

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.