Study: Britons united by hard work, fairness and community, but pessimism runs deep
A large-scale survey finds most Britons agree on shared national values across political lines, yet many remain doubtful about the country's unity since Brexit.
A major study by polling firm Public First has found that people across Britain, despite differing political views, ages and backgrounds, largely agree on a core set of values that define British identity. The research surveyed 6,000 adults and included focus group discussions with 300 people, asking participants to rank which values mattered most, forcing trade-offs between them.
Hard work emerged as the most commonly cited trait, with 70% of respondents describing it as a British value. Community proved even more central, with 80% agreeing the country is at its best when neighbours look out for one another. Those who had volunteered in the past month were notably more optimistic about their local area's future than those who had never volunteered. Fairness and queueing were named as the clearest examples of British life at its best, alongside the NHS and equal treatment for all.
The study also revealed sharp divisions, particularly around immigration. Half of respondents said immigration had negatively affected the UK, while only a fifth said cultural diversity made them proud of the country. More than 65% believe Britain has become more divided since Brexit, and only about a third feel hopeful about the future.
Despite this, three-quarters of those surveyed believe Britons share common values, with agreement ranging from 70% among Reform UK voters to 83% among Labour-leaning voters. Researchers suggest politicians would do better to emphasise these shared, positive values rather than framing messages around grievance and loss, noting such affirmative messaging resonates more strongly with the public.
