Working migrants should stay - poll

The survey of 1,004 British adults also found two out of three people believe asylum seekers should be allowed to work.

The poll, commissioned by the Citizen Organising Foundation (COF), an umbrella body of religious, community and labour organisations, also showed 21% think the Government is doing a good job of handling immigration.

The survey, released on Tuesday, is part of the COF's Strangers into Citizens campaign, which is calling for a two-year work permit for migrants who have been in the UK for more than four years.

The campaign has the backing of church leaders, and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.

Campaign co-ordinator Austen Ivereigh said: "What this poll shows is that British people welcome immigrants who work and who are part of society.

"That is precisely the case with long-term undocumented migrants, who have put down roots in Britain because they have found work and opportunity here."

The Home Office estimates there are between 310,000 and 570,000 illegal immigrants in the UK.

The campaign proposes an "earned regularisation" programme which would offer provisional work permits to migrants who become permanent by having stable employment and passing language tests.

Keith Best, chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, said: "This poll is a ringing endorsement of what IAS has recommended to Government over many years, namely that those who work illegally should be regularised in the interests of the British taxpayer - as it could add £1 billion to the Exchequer each year - and in their own interests as it lends dignity to be able to work."