More than eight out of 10 British people believe their country is in a “bad” state, with 36 per cent considering it to be “very bad”, according to a new YouGov survey.
The polling released this week found most respondents had a negative mindset about the UK and how it compares to other western countries. Only 14 per cent said they think the UK is in good health, with just 1 per cent considering it to be in a “very good” state.
Three quarters of respondents said they think the UK is in a worse state than it was a decade ago. They were also pessimistic about the prospects for the year ahead, with 60 per cent believing conditions will deteriorate, up from 39 per cent in a survey last year.
The previous survey was conducted during the 2024 general election campaign, and respondents might have anticipated that a change of government would improve things.
The new Labour government, however, is beset by the same issues that dogged the Conservatives, from the cost of living crisis to immigration, and a lack of economic growth. It has raised taxes and is expected to do so again, while also making changes that have deterred many wealthy people from being based in the country.
YouGov said the British public has a tendency to think that the UK is worse than other western countries. Forty-eight per cent said things at home are worse than most or all other western states, up 5 per cent on last year’s response.
While the 80 per cent of Britons who considered the UK to be in a bad state last year is similar to the 82 per cent this year, the number saying we are in a “very bad” place has also increased by 5 per cent.
