By The Smartencyclopedia Staff Writer with Agencies
Trust in British politics has plummeted to an all-time low, driven by the lingering impact of Brexit and the rising prominence of culture and identity issues, according to the latest British Social Attitudes survey.
Disillusionment Among Leave Voters
The survey by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) reveals a significant increase in disenchantment with the government among those who voted to leave the European Union. The percentage of leave voters who stated they seldom trust governments to prioritize the country’s needs has surged from 25% in 2020 to 48% in the latest survey.
Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice, a senior research fellow at NatCen, commented on the findings: “It is often suggested that now that Brexit no longer dominates the political agenda, the battle for votes has reverted to being simply a contest between left and right. However, the terrain the parties are fighting is now a two-dimensional space in which issues of culture and identity, including Brexit, are as important as the divide between left and right.”
Waning Trust in Government and Politicians
The survey found that 45% of respondents “rarely” believe that governments of any party are fully focused on addressing the challenges facing the UK, surpassing the previous record high of 40% recorded in 2009 following the MPs’ expenses scandal. Additionally, 58% of respondents said they “seldom” trust politicians of any party to “tell the truth when they are in a tight corner,” marking a 19-point increase since 2020.
Call for Systemic Change
A substantial 79% of those surveyed believe that the UK’s system of governing could be improved “quite a lot” or “a great deal,” matching the record high seen during the Brexit stalemate in 2019 and representing an 18-point increase since 2020. Professor Curtice highlighted that the next government will need to address public concerns about the trustworthiness and efficacy of the country’s system of governance.
NatCen’s findings suggest that policy failures, particularly regarding the NHS and the cost-of-living crisis, have further eroded confidence in the government. A notable 86% of those dissatisfied with the NHS indicated that the system of government requires significant improvement. Similarly, nearly three-quarters (72%) of those struggling with living costs reported seldom trusting politicians to tell the truth, compared to 49% of those living comfortably.
Growing Support for Devolution
The survey also indicates increasing support for devolution. For the first time, less than half of people in England support the current parliamentary system over the introduction of a separate English parliament or regional government model.
Duality in Voter Concerns
The survey identifies a persistent divide among voters on identity issues, which now coexist with the traditional left-right debate about the economy and inequality. Researchers suggest that this new duality is likely to be a key factor influencing voter behavior in the upcoming General Election on July 4.
Survey Details
The British Social Attitudes survey included 5,578 interviews with a representative, random sample of adults conducted between September 12 and October 31, 2023. The findings underscore the profound challenges facing the British political landscape and the urgent need for systemic reforms to restore public trust.