More than 50 per cent of Britons believes mass immigration threatens their country’s ‘Britishness’, according to a new study.

The Aurora Humanitarian Index 2017, which “seeks to empower modern-day saviours to offer life and hope to those in urgent need”, found that 56 per cent of Britons believe ethnic minorities pose a threat to local culture.

Almost a quarter – 24 per cent – said they worried immigration was depriving natives of jobs, and over a third – 34 per cent – said immigration costs society more than it contributes.

In fact, the government’s Migration Advisory Committee concluded in 2012 that for every one hundred migrants brought to Britain from outside the European Union, around 23 native workers are displaced, with later analyses suggesting the effects are particularly acute for Britons in working-class occupations.

Moreover, a 2015 study by the Bank of England found that “a 10 percentage point rise in the proportion of immigrants working in semi/unskilled services — that is, in care homes, bars, shops, restaurants, cleaning, for example — leads to a 1.88 per cent reduction in pay” for British workers.

In terms of contributions to the public purse, a landmark University College London (UCL) study found that recent migrants from the European Economic Area (EEA) have contributed somewhat more the Exchequer than they have consumed in services, at least by according to the study’s criteria.

However, the UCL study also revealed that, if you analyse the impact of all types of immigrant between 1995 and 2011, you end up with a net negative impact on the order of £95 billion.

Irrespective of the validity of survey respondents’ views, the Aurora Humanitarian Index’s organisers were clearly unhappy with the results.

“This year’s findings demonstrate an overall decline in the support for humanitarian action based on scepticism in the ability to make an impact and ambivalence in defending social values over self-interest,” the report noted disapprovingly.