Nearly half (45 per cent) of the respondents to a survey has said that equal rights 'had not gone far enough' for black and Asian people in UK. Two decades ago, the proportion was 25 per cent.
The latest annual poll of British social attitudes has also revealed that the proportion of people who felt race quality improved in the country fell to 19 per cent in 2021 from 35 per cent in 2000. A third of respondents felt things were about right.
The survey carried out by National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) revealed that more than half (54 per cent) agreed it was not important to be born in Britain to be 'truly British', up from 25 per cent in 2013.
There was a clear shift in perception about Britain as 34 per cent agreed Britain is 'a better country than most others, down from 54 per cent in 2013.
The survey also found out shift in views on immigration as only 20 per cent said that it is bad for economy, compared to 42 per cent in 2011. The percentage of people who support immigration rose from 21 per cent to 50 per cent during the period.
Majority of people in Britian also support liberal views on issues such as racial equality, immigration and sexual identity, the survey has said.
“Our survey suggests the public faces the cost of living crisis with as much appetite for increased government spending as it had during the pandemic. Despite the marked increase in public expenditure during the pandemic, support for increased taxation and spending is relatively high, even among Conservative supporters," Gillian Prior, NatCen’s chief executive, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
As many as 73 per cent of the respondents said that rights for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals has not been improved, compared with 62 per cent in 2013.
About 64 per cent of people thought rights for transgender people 'had not gone too far', compared to 34 per cent who said so eight years ago.
In the wake of the cost of living crisis, there was a strong public public support for increased taxation and public spending, including on social security benefits.
According to the survey, Public satisfaction on NHS dropped to 36 per cent, its lowest level since 1997 mainly due to long waiting times for hospital and GP appointments and lack of government funding.
Over half (51 per cent) of the respondents favoured introduction of a proportional representation system (PR) for voting MPs into the House of Commons, up from 27 per cent in 2011). While a majority of Labour voters supported PR (61 per cent) only 29 per cent of conservatives favoured electoral reform.
More than half (57 per cent) of those surveyed said they were willing to pay to protect the environment. Concerns over the climate crisis doubled to 40 per cent when compared to 2010.
As many as 6,250 people have responded to the survey which was conducted between 16 September and 31 October 2021.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)