Dear friend,

We hope you're doing well. In this week's newsletter, we’re excited to share some new research and invite you to an upcoming event.

• On Wednesday 12th March, we’re hosting a webinar to share the findings of our new research briefing, Change Still Pending.
  
  
• More in Common’s major international study, Ukraine: the fallout from the Oval Office. Based on polling across five countries, the report explores public opinion on the war in Ukraine, and how the events of the past few weeks have been received across Europe and the United States.
  
  
• Our new UK research on smartphones and social media. Drawing from polling of the general public, parents and Gen-Z Britons, the report reveals Britons' concerns about smartphones, their impact on young people, and the demand for tighter regulations.

Webinar: Change Still Pending

Last week, in partnership with UCL Policy Lab, we published Change Still Pending - a research project that explores public opinion eight months into the new Parliament, and explores how Keir Starmer’s evolving leadership style is meeting the expectations and desires of a public impatient with the failings of the political status quo. We find the Prime Minister needs to strike a balance between delivering the bold change promised during the election campaign with the public’s limited appetite for disruptive populism.

We invite you to a webinar next Thursday at 10 AM, where Luke Tryl will present the findings and provide an opportunity for discussion. Please register for the event here:

Ukraine: The fallout from the Oval Office

Following the breakdown in relations between Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Voldoymyr Zelenskyy in their Oval Office meeting, More in Common conducted snap international polling across Britain, France, Germany, Poland and the United States.

The polling of more than 7,000 people reveals steadfast international support for Ukraine’s defence. Across all of the five nations, a clear majority of the public believe that Ukraine’s defence matters to their country.

While there is strong support across Europe and the United States, British voters are uniquely united in their attitudes toward Ukraine, with remarkably little polarisation along party lines.

Across a range of measures - including the importance of Ukraine’s defence, sympathy for Ukraine and the belief that Russia alone started the war - the gap between supporters of different 

Even as the US pulls support from Ukraine’s defence, Europe remains undeterred; few would want to see European countries mirror Trump’s military aid freeze.

Two-thirds of Britons think the UK and Europe should continue to support Ukraine even if the United States continues its pause in support. Only 17 per cent think that the UK should stop supporting Ukraine if the US does.

This view extends across Europe, with majorities of Polish (65 per cent) French (54 per cent) and German (57 per cent) people backing continued support for Ukraine as Trump steps away.

That said, a majority in every country say that Russia is unlikely to keep to any ceasefire agreement signed.

You can read the full report, including international comparisons, below:

Safer smartphones and social media: What do Britons want?

On the eve of the Safer Phones Bill’s debate in Parliament, we launched new research with the New Britain Project for the National Education Union - showing clear support for strong restrictions on the harms of social media, spanning Britain's political divides.

Alongside nationally representative polling, the study combines qualitative and quantitative insights into what both British parents and Gen Z Britons think. It finds that far from concern about social media being the latest ‘moral panic’ or concern of the elderly, parents and young people alike are worried about the harmful impact of social media on young people.  

72 per cent of the public think that social media has a negative impact on young people, and among parents social media tops the list of things parents think are harmful to children's mental health.

Among Gen Z themselves, there is also a sense of regret that so much of their childhood has been taken up by social media. Almost two thirds of Gen Z say social media does more harm than good, half of them say they wish they'd spent less time on their phones growing up, and 78 per cent say if they were a parent they would try to delay their child using social media for as long as possible.

The research reveals that there is strong support for tighter rules on social media and smartphones, spanning across age and politics. Three quarters support raising the age at which people can access social media to 16, including a majority of every age group and every voter group.

Meanwhile, seven in ten (71 per cent) want a ban on all smartphones in schools. Only 14 per cent would oppose this policy.

You can find the full findings from our research here:

Many thanks - have a great week!

All the best,

Luke

Luke Tryl
Executive Director
More in Common UK