As families come together for the festive period, many want to avoid talking about politicians, the economy and religion over their Christmas dinner – but one topic beat these

Talking about immigration is the most taboo subject for British families on Christmas day, polling shows.

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As families come together for the festive period, many want to avoid talking about politicians, the economy and religion over their Christmas dinner.

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But immigration has taken the top spot, with 43% hoping to avoid the subject over Christmas, new polling from Public First shows. It puts it ahead of avoiding talking about politicians (39%), the economy (35%) and religion (33%).

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The instinct to dodge immigration as an issue is particularly strong among older people. More than half (51%) of those aged 55-64 say they will try to avoid talking about immigration over Christmas, the highest of any age group.

Avoidance is similarly widespread across the political spectrum, with Liberal Democrat voters (48%) most likely to avoid the topic, followed by Green voters (47%) and Reform voters (45%). Some 42% of Labour voters said they’d avoid the topic and 39% of Tories.

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Immigration has become an increasingly divisive issue in recent years. This year saw widespread protests outside asylum hotels over the summer, which followed from anti-immigration riots last year in response to the Southport stabbings.

Elsewhere, Public First’s polling found nearly a third (32%) of young people are likely to have an argument with their family at Christmas.

Seb Wride, a partner at Public First and head of opinion research, said: “There is a very clear divide between the conversations politicians and the media are having, and the conversations people are willing to have over their turkey dinners.

“In our focus groups and face-to-face research this year, the public has become more confident in expressing their views on immigration, often opening conversations with the topic immediately.

“But clearly the way they speak to researchers has not spilled over to their family yet. Even as immigration rises up the issue agenda, the divides in society have not yet become divides in the season of goodwill, or at least not out loud.”