Press Story

Only 31% of Britain's white working class think democracy in Britain works for them, but Britain's middle/upper middle class are only marginally more optimistic (43%), according to a new report from the think tank IPPR published today. The report also shows that over half of Britons believe that the political system in the UK does a bad job at addressing their problems (68% of Britain's white working class and 59% of middle/upper middle classes (ABC1)).

The report includes new polling showing that the difference in attitudes between social groups is not as pronounced as some stereotypes would suggest. For example, 43% of Britain's white working class believe their financial situation will change for the worse over the next 12 months, while 32% of ABC1 also do. And less than 40% of both groups, Britain's white working class (21%) and ABC1 (34%), believe that the economic situation of the country will get better over the next 12 months.

The report highlights that while the difference between these social groups is fairly narrow, Britain's white working classes are consistently more pessimistic. For example the polling shows that the majority (52%) of the white working classes believe that "success in Britain today is mostly reserved for those people from privileged backgrounds who know the right people, talented people from poorer backgrounds don't have a chance", compared to a minority (42%) of ABC1s. The polling also shows that only 8% of Britain's white working class believe politicians understand their lives, in contrast to 18% of ABC1s.

The report further shows that:

60% of Britain's white working classes would support reducing immigration even if it was bad for the economy, compared with 47% of the middle/upper middle classes
65% of Britain's white working classes believe the healthcare system in Britain today meets their needs, while 71% of the middle/upper middle classes do.
Around half of both groups think the education system in Britain today meets their needs (49% of Britain's white working classes and 57% of ABC1s).
On attitudes to immigration there is slightly bigger gap, with 12% of Britain's white working classes and 23% of Britain's middle/upper middle classes thinking that people from different countries coming to live in Britain is good for the economy.
Both Britain's white working classes (70%) and middle/upper middle classes (69%) (ABC1) believe that social class affects opportunities in Britain today

The report also shows that many people feel that "the economic system these days is generally worse for people like me than it was in the past" - 48% of Britain's white working class and 44% of the middle/upper middle class agreed with this statement.

The polling further shows that, more encouragingly, younger people from all social classes appear to be more optimistic than their older counterparts, with 18-24 year olds consistently demonstrating more positive views in response to questions about their own and the country's prospects.

Phoebe Griffith, IPPR Associate Director, said

"Recent debates about class in Britain paint a picture of a nation starkly divided. The work we have done challenges this caricature of British society. Rather than chastise the white working class for being fearful of change, we must recognise that change fuelled by mass migration or economic restructuring can be deeply unsettling. This is true not just for an alienated white minority, but for all British people. Addressing this will require concerted efforts to reconnect all citizens with a reformed and more inclusive democratic process.."

Notes to Editors

The new report –Alien Nation: New perspectives on the 'white working class' in Britain] -– will be available from Monday 6 October from http://www.ippr.org/publications/

White working class as defined in this poll as white individuals within the C2DE occupational class category.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 3,514 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 9th - 11th September 2014. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Contacts

Sofie Jenkinson, 07981 023 031, s.jenkinson@ippr.org