Britons value open debate but are afraid to speak their minds, according to new research from More in Common and University College London (UCL). Seven in ten (69 per cent) say they are at least sometimes reluctant to say what they really think. Fears of being called ‘racist’, ‘far-right’ or ‘woke’ hold people back on immigration, gender identity and the conflict in the Middle East.

Based on polling and focus group research, the report also finds that the places where public disagreement should happen are widely seen as failing. Britons see social media as toxic, do not use civic forms for debate, and see Parliament as modelling bad ways to disagree. Many can only point to the pub as a healthy space to disagree – yet there is a widespread desire for more places to disagree well.

Key findings

• Nearly three in five Britons (58 per cent) say it is becoming harder to disagree about difficult topics than it was a few years ago, compared to just 6 per cent who say it is becoming easier. This view is most widely held by Reform voters (69 per cent), but spans across age groups.
• Seven in ten Britons (69 per cent) say they are at least sometimes reluctant to say what they really think.
• More than two in five Britons (44 per cent) at least sometimes worry about being labelled negatively – as ‘racist’, ‘right-wing’ or ‘woke’ – when they express an opinion. 
• Britons still believe in disagreement, but think Britain does it badly. 63 per cent say it is important that we discuss every topic no matter how strongly we disagree. But 64 per cent say that when people in Britain disagree about politics they usually end up being hostile or unpleasant.
• The goal for Britons isn’t always to win the argument, but to be understood: Only 4 per cent of Britons say the most important thing in a political argument is to change the other person’s mind. Eight times as many (32 per cent) say it is to understand the other person’s point of view.
• Britons see disagreeing well as a skill. Listening is the attribute Britons value most for healthy disagreement (46 per cent), ahead of staying calm (39 per cent), using facts (35 per cent) and remaining polite (26 per cent).
• The forums designed for public debate are not widely used.  Britons are more likely to argue about politics at the pub (23 per cent) than on social media with strangers (22 per cent) at college, university or school (18 per cent), at a community group or town hall meeting (17 per cent) or in public with strangers (15 per cent).
• Politicians are not seen as modelling good disagreement. 57 per cent say politicians tend to be rude and disrespectful when they debate each other.

The research forms part of UCL’s Disagreeing Well campaign, which explores how people can navigate disagreement constructively – not by eliminating differences of opinion, but by developing the skills and spaces that allow people to listen, understand different perspectives and disagree without becoming hostile.

3 in 5 say it’s getting harder to disagree in Britain

Nearly three in five Britons (58 per cent) say it is becoming harder to disagree about difficult topics in the UK than it was a few years ago. Just 6 per cent say it is becoming easier.

• This is not a simple left-right split. The view is most widely held by Reform UK voters (69 per cent) and Conservative voters (67 per cent), but majorities of Labour (56 per cent), Liberal Democrat (55 per cent) and Green Party (52 per cent) voters say the same.
• The generational divide is wider than the political one: 74 per cent of 65-74 year olds say it is becoming harder to disagree, against 45 per cent of 25-34 year olds.
• Two-thirds of Britons (67 per cent) say the UK feels divided, against 15 per cent who say it feels united.

“If you go back, I don’t know, 30 years ago, even if people had different opinions of who they supported, there wasn’t this big divide.” Neil, North West London

You don’t want to be accused of anything just because of your opinion, but also how can it be used as a slur as to which way you vote? This is why we vote, because it gives us our opinion, and you don’t want to be slandered for having an opinion – and that’s basically what’s happening now. Catherine, Sheffield

Britons are biting their tongues, and fear of being labelled is a big reason why

Seven in ten Britons (69 per cent) say they are at least sometimes reluctant to say what they really think in the UK today, including 21 per cent who say they feel that way often.

• The most common reasons for holding back are not wanting to start an argument (34 per cent) and worrying that their views will be misrepresented or misunderstood (32 per cent), followed by not wanting to make things awkward or uncomfortable (27 per cent) and worrying about being seen as prejudiced (25 per cent).
• More than two in five Britons (44 per cent) at least sometimes worry about being labelled negatively when they express an opinion, including 14 per cent who worry often.
• Younger Britons worry about this most. 55 per cent of 18-24 year olds and 54 per cent of 25-34 year olds at least sometimes worry about a negative label.
• For Reform UK voters, fear of being seen as prejudiced is the top reason to bite their tongue. Among those who avoid saying what they think, 36 per cent of Reform UK voters give this as a reason.

“Everyone is afraid of being called far right or racist… so I think everyone tiptoes around.” Archie, Mid-Wales

“The hardest one to talk about is always immigration.” Amina, Sheffield

The public thinks disagreement is important, but that Britain bottles it up

In focus groups, Britons treat disagreement as normal and necessary – something to be done well rather than avoided.

Several push back on the idea that some subjects are best left alone. What mattered was how a disagreement was handled – and not letting it become a falling-out. 

Many feel that Britain is losing the art of disagreeing well, as debates become more fraught.

• Three in five Britons (63 per cent) say we should debate every topic, no matter how strongly we disagree, compared to 37 per cent who say some topics are too divisive to be discussed and are best left alone.
• Britons do not always want to win the argument, but always to be understood. Only 4 per cent say the most important thing when arguing about politics is to change the other person’s mind. Eight times as many (32 per cent) say it is to understand the other person’s point of view, and a quarter (25 per cent) say it is to get their own point across clearly. Nine in ten (91 per cent) say it is often good to “agree to disagree” if it ends the argument.
• Listening is the skill Britons value most for productive disagreement (46 per cent), ahead of staying calm (39 per cent), using facts (35 per cent) and remaining polite (26 per cent). 

“It’s a life skill. I don’t think it’s something to be taught. I think it’s something that you pick up on the way through life experience.” Willow, Southampton

“Too many people… they’re actually just waiting for the person to stop talking so that they can get theirs across.” Darrell, Glasgow

The places where public disagreement should happen are seen as failing – and people want more spaces to disagree well.

Across the focus groups, the institutions that are supposed to host public disagreement – Parliament, universities and social media – were either seldom used by the public or seen to be doing it badly. 

• • 57 per cent say politicians tend to be rude and disrespectful when they debate each other, such as at PMQs or on Question Time, while 83 per cent say politicians should always be respectful when disagreeing.
  • Of the figures tested, Donald Trump (69 per cent) and Nigel Farage (52 per cent) are the most likely to be seen as disagreeing badly. Andy Burnham is the only figure tested where more than twice as many say he disagrees well (37 per cent) as badly (14 per cent).
  • Those who disagree online are not representative. 63 per cent of Britons say they never argue about politics on social media, and of those who do, 64 per cent vote for parties on the left. 
  • Universities and civic forums are barely used for disagreement. 70 per cent say they never debate politics at college, university or school, and 69 per cent never do so at a local community group or town hall meeting.
  • Outside the home and friendship groups, the pub is where Britons are most likely to argue about politics. 23 per cent do so at least sometimes – more than at college, university or school (18 per cent), at a community group or town hall meeting (17 per cent) or in public with strangers (15 per cent). In focus groups, the pub was the example participants returned to when describing a space where people can still disagree well.
  • The pub is also one of the few spaces tested where those who disagree there are equally likely to vote for parties on the left as on the right.

“You only have to watch the House of Commons… it’s always a one-upmanship where they’re trying to get one over on the other person… cheering in the background like they’re in primary school.” Archie, Mid-Wales

“Social media is the most unhealthy… the arguments are really terrible on social media, especially Facebook.” Rohan, Rotherham

“Saying it can only be in universities and government can be quite classist… there needs to be some sort of forum where every voice can be put forward.” Willow, Southampton