Faith in political institutions has collapsed, with 87 per cent of Britons across all parties having either not very much trust in politicians or none at all. This distrust extends beyond healthy scepticism to "deep-seated contempt" for a political class seen as self-serving and out of touch. However, distrust is not limited to politicians or political institutions, with many similarly distrustful of the judiciary, police, journalists and business. Closely tied to this crisis of trust is a lack of respect; many now believe that respect has become decoupled from contribution and that civic institutions do not respect people like them. The NHS remains the notable exception, maintaining a high level of trust, while scientists also broadly retain public confidence, unlike in some other countries.
Britons feel worn down by both political chaos and personal financial pressures. Despite being told since the 2008 financial crash that getting Britain back on track will require "tough choices", many have seen no improvement and seven in ten believe things are getting worse. The public feel that governments of all colours have failed to deliver change. The cost-of-living crisis has left people feeling they are "surviving not living", with 43 per cent citing money as their biggest source of stress and many cutting back on basic social activities. Half of Britons now believe the cost of living crisis will never end.
Eight in ten Britons believe the world is becoming more dangerous, and most do not believe the government is able to keep the country safe or get the country a good deal on the world stage. Britons' concerns span escalating international conflicts, energy security, the unpredictability of the Trump Presidency, failure to control immigration, and perceptions of rising crime and lack of progress in tackling climate change. This sense of insecurity is particularly acute in areas affected by economic dislocation, contributing to support for parties such as Reform UK.
Among many Britons there is a feeling that they do not have control over their own lives, and that they could be thrown off course by the next energy bill rise or interest rate hike. That feeling of lack of control extends to the government - almost three in four believe it does not have things under control. Many tell us of their frustration that the government is unable to deliver on everything from major infrastructure projects to border security, embodied by a failure to 'stop the boats'. This powerlessness fuels the belief that Britain's best days are behind it.
Britons divide on whether the solution to the country’s problems is incremental reform or radical transformation. This is not a left-right fault line. Some segments on the traditional left and right favour ‘burning down’ existing institutions, while others want to protect and improve them. Appetite for change often reflects risk tolerance—some are more willing to ‘roll the dice’, backing untested parties and solutions over the old rule book.
While Britons broadly agree on the big issues, they differ on whether those issues—like the cost of living or immigration—have simple or complex solutions. Some believe expert input is needed, while others favour more direct, people-led decision-making. These differences influence how much patience different segments have for the pace and process of change.
Most Britons believe individuals are responsible for their own outcomes, but some segments see structural factors as more influential. Progressive Activists stand out for their strong belief in systemic barriers. Segments also differ in how much power they think individuals have to influence society at large—those with higher belief in personal agency are less supportive of redistributive policies.
Trust in mainstream media varies widely, particularly among younger Britons. Some prefer traditional journalism; others turn to influencers or personal accounts online. These fragmented information ecosystems have driven rising belief in conspiracy theories—over one in three think Covid was exaggerated to control people. Segments that disengage from news are also more likely to back non-mainstream parties.
Britain is divided on whether diversity strengthens or weakens national identity. Locally rooted and socially conservative groups fear that British identity is disappearing, while globally oriented liberals see diversity as a strength. Views also differ on pride in being British and on whether national resources should prioritise citizens over immigrants. Some now see it as their personal responsibility to defend British culture.
While people often trust their neighbours, many feel isolated from society more broadly. Some segments trust others easily, while others think "you can't be too careful". The pandemic and rise of home working have deepened these divides. Financial insecurity strongly predicts social distrust—with economic inequality and immigration emerging as the most divisive issues in Britain today.
Unlike American-style free speech absolutism, many Britons look for a balance between a desire to limit government interference in free speech and protecting people from hateful or dangerous speech. More socially liberal segments sit closer to the latter end of that spectrum, but so too do more social conservatives with a distaste for crass language. However others in socially conservative segments say they feel pressured to self- censor on topics like immigration, feeling that they are often "walking on eggshells” and not allowed to use language that was previously acceptable. Some segments think that political correctness helps ensure respect and inclusion in society, others attribute it to the rise of humourless “woke” culture and think that it is harmful.
Although Brexit is less prominent politically, "Leaver" vs "Remainer" remains a key identity divide—two in five say it’s still important to them. One third say party identity matters, especially Reform UK supporters. Being British is important to two-thirds of people, though Progressive Activists are an outlier. Gender is the identity marker most people say matters to them.
A highly engaged and globally-minded group driven by concerns about social justice. Politically active but feeling increasingly alienated from mainstream party politics, they prioritise issues such as climate change and international affairs. Occasionally outliers on social issues, they maintain a strongly held and sometimes uncompromising approach to their beliefs.
A civic-minded, community-oriented group holding views which are generally left-of-centre but with an aversion to the extreme; they prefer gradual reform over revolutionary change. They trust experts and institutions yet are largely tuned out of day-to-day politics and can be conflict-averse, stepping away from issues they see as particularly fraught or complex.
A prosperous, confident segment who believe the system broadly works as it is and who trust experts to deliver continued progress. They have a strong belief in individual agency which can make them less empathetic to those who are struggling. Institutionally trusting, they maintain faith in democratic processes and have a strong information-centric way of engaging with issues.
A digitally-native group whose unhappiness with the social contract means they have lost faith in traditional institutions and seek alternative sources of truth online. Often shaped by their experience of the Covid pandemic, they prefer individual influencers over mainstream media and are increasingly drawn to conspiratorial thinking.
A patriotic but politically untethered group which feels abandoned and overlooked by political elites and yearns for leaders with common sense, but does not want to overthrow the system as a whole. They are particularly concerned about community decline and the pressures of migration. Interventionist on economics but conservative on social issues, they have shaped much of Britain's politics over the past decade.
Respectful of authority and tradition, Traditional Conservatives believe in individual responsibility and established norms that have served them well. Nostalgic for the past but optimistic about the future, they are deeply sceptical of many forces of change such as immigration or the path to net-zero.
Frustrated with their circumstances with an appetite for radical solutions, Dissenting Disruptors crave dramatic change and strong leadership. Highly distrustful of institutions, opposed to multiculturalism and feeling disconnected from society, they are drawn to political movements that promise to overhaul the status quo and put people like them first.