The contours of a nation increasingly disillusioned with its leaders and institutions are coming into stark relief, thanks to the latest findings from Ipsos's long-running study in collaboration with the 'Understanding Society' project. A once-strong social contract is now fraying at the edges, with trust in politicians hitting rock bottom – only 20% believe them to be good people, down sharply from 33% in 1989.
This plummeting trust is set against a backdrop of unshakeable pessimism, with 72% of respondents fearing a world war within the next quarter century – a level of anxiety not seen since the height of the Cold War. This widespread disillusionment has led to a profound disconnect between public expectations on services like the NHS and their willingness to pay the taxes that support them.
Gideon Skinner, Ipsos's Director of UK Politics in Public Affairs, notes this as a "sharpening public friction" – with 46% supporting collective welfare provision, down from 54%, while 47% favour individual self-reliance, up from 40%. This divide is further complicated by the public's desire for lower taxes and their increasing support for socialist ideals.
Despite the growing demand for lower taxes, 57% now support a "mainly socialist society" where public interests take precedence – a rise of 10 percentage points since 1989. Furthermore, more people now believe in similar incomes and rewards for all compared to two decades ago. This paradox highlights a nation struggling with conflicting desires for its future.
The study also reveals a significant decline in the belief that social mobility is possible regardless of background – only one in four (26%) Britons now think capable individuals rise to the top, down from 52% in 1989. This suggests a growing recognition that birth and inherited wealth play a major role in shaping future opportunities.
While most Britons report being happy with their lives, despite fewer people describing themselves as 'very happy' than in 1991, liberal values have fostered increased tolerance since the 1980s. However, Ipsos warns that this pervasive pessimism risks becoming an ingrained part of the British national identity.