Dear friend,

We hope this finds you well and you are enjoying the shift into spring! We're excited to share some new research we've been working on. In this newsletter:

• A nationally-representative poll of disabled Britons, exploring perspectives and experiences of disability-related benefits.
• Some insights from our recent focus groups in Merthyr Tydfill and Dudley.
• New research on how English people define Englishness.
• Opportunities to partner with us at this year’s party conferences.

   

What do disabled Britons think about disability-related benefits?

The past few weeks have been dominated by speculation on and then debate about disability benefits. Unfortunately, much of that debate takes place in the absence of voices of disabled people themselves.

To better understand the attitudes of disabled Britons towards disability-related benefits, More in Common undertook a survey of 1,107 disabled Britons, weighted to be representative of Britain’s disabled population

Disabled Britons overwhelmingly believe that the majority of those receiving disability benefits need this support (86 per cent). That view is also shared by Britons as a whole, with 77 per cent of the public of the view that disabled Briton’s need the benefits they are receiving. 

But at the same time, disabled Britons feel that those in receipt of benefits aren’t respected in society. Half of disabled Britons think that those on disability-related benefits don't get enough respect - a figure that rises to 61 per cent among those who receive benefits.

Here, the views of other Britons diverge slightly from the perspectives of disabled people: the British public as a whole are more split with 37 per cent who say those on disability-related benefits receive the right amount of respect, and 32 per cent saying they don’t get enough respect.

We also asked disabled Britons what they thought about a potential change to the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

We found that - while the public overall would be supportive of means-testing PIP - most of those who are disabled have concerns about it.

55 per cent of disabled Britons think that disability benefits like PIP should be provided to all disabled people regardless of income, while 33 per cent of disabled Britons believe these benefits should only be provided to those on low incomes.

Disabled and non-disabled Britons are united, however, in believing that the government should do more to help disabled people to work.

Half of disabled Britons believe the Government is doing too little to support disabled people to work, compared to 29 per cent who believe it is doing the right amount and six per cent who say it is doing too much.

Across the wider population, 39 per cent say that too little is done to support disabled people, compared to 31 per cent who say enough is done, and 6 per cent who say too much is done.

Read and share Luke's thread on the research below:

A view from the public

Earlier this month, I spent some time in Merthyr Tydfill and Dudley. In a series of focus groups I explored how residents of these two towns felt about the state of the country, our politics and the geo-political events of the past few months.

What I heard was a deep well of disillusionment, a sense Briton was on the wrong track and real frustration that both our political class and big business were working against ordinary people.

The people I spoke too raised unprompted their disgust at how Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was treated in the Oval Office, and their concern about what America’s new foreign policy meant for the rest of the world.

With one participant describing the choice at the last election as between being “hit on the head by an anvil or a hammer”, it’s clear politicians and wider civil society need to do more to address people’s sense that the system just isn’t working for them.

You can read the full write up of the focus groups in the Guardian:

What is Englishness?

Recent debates about the nature of Englishness have triggered a media conversation around what it means to be English and crucially who can call themselves English.

More in Common’s new polling finds that a belief in a strictly racially defined English identity is a minority view among English people.

A clear majority of English people —across age, ethnicity and education agree that being English is not defined by race, skin colour, or religion. That agreement spans the political divide too with supporters of parties of the left such as Labour and the Liberal Democrats believing that non-white citizens can be just as English as other English people, but also clear majorities of those who support parties of the right such as the Conservatives or Reform UK.

Across England three quarters of the public believe that non-white British citizens who were born in England can be just as English as other English people. Only 15 per cent disagree.

Asked another way, 74 per cent say that someone can be English regardless of their skin colour or ethnic background; just 17 per cent say these factors are important to whether someone is English.

Nor does religion factor in the majority of English people’s views of whether or not someone can be English - 79 per cent of English people think someone can be English regardless of religion. Just 11 per cent say religion is important.

You can read the full findings below:

Partner with More in Common at this year’s Party Conferences

As we gear up for the 2025 Party Conference season, we’re inviting organisations to partner with More in Common on our high-profile events programme.

Over the last three years, our events have been among some of the most discussed and best attended at conferences - leading to packed out conference rooms, extensive media coverage and important debates being amplified during the busy conference season. 

Our panels bring together senior MPs, ministers, journalists, leaders of major national institutions, political strategists, campaigners, and more. As a non-partisan organisation, we host a full programme of events across the political spectrum, creating space for impactful conversations at every conference.

Our 2024 conference season was our best yet - at our events we heard from names such as Tom Baldwin, Emily Thornberry, Emily Maitlis, Miriam Cates and Michael Gove. We expect our 2025 events to be even bigger and better, and we’d love to collaborate with you.

If you’re part of an organisation that would be interested in partnering with More in Common, please email Vatsala at vatsala@moreincommon.com for more information.

Thanks and all the best,

Luke

Luke Tryl
Executive Director
More in Common UK