Ipsos Research Highlights - 15 May 2020

This week's Ipsos Research Highlights features what behaviours the British public deem unacceptable during lockdown, public opinion on public services and our fourth Life under Lockdown video diary.

 

Having a nanny or cleaner come to work from a different household is seen as unacceptable behaviour under lockdown

The Government recently announced that those working as nannies and cleaners will be allow to return to work. However before the lockdown measures were eased three-quarters of the British public felt that having both these workers in the home was unacceptable (76% and 73% respectively). More than half of Britons thought interacting with people outside the household was a bad idea, and 68% think it's certainly unacceptable if the other person is over 70-years-old. 

Ipsos poll finds having a nanny or cleaner come to work from a different household is seen as unacceptable behaviour under lockdown

Majority of Britons continue to think the Government should prioritise health over economy in COVID-19 response

Fifty-three per cent of Britons think the Government should prioritise people's health over the economy with more restrictions on public events and travel. This may be because the public are confident that the British economy will be able to recover in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Whilst three in ten (29%) say that Britain will recover slower than other countries, 53% of Britons say that we will recover quicker or about the same rate as others. This jumps up to 73% among 2019 Conservative voters. 

Britons are confident that their public services can cope with the aftermath of Coronavirus

Confidence in the British public services remains high for the majority. The NHS is rated most positively with 89% saying it has responded well to coronavirus, followed closely by schools (68%) and the police (67%). Britons are also confident that these services have the ability to adapt to the fall-out coronavirus may cause but they could be stifled by lack of funding. This is a sentiment shared particularly by Labour and Liberal Democrat voters, and those that voted remain in 2016. 

Majority of Britons want to see an increase in the number of EU doctors and nurses coming to the UK post-Brexit 

Concern about immigration in Britain has decreased since the UK referendum vote and half of Britons (52%) want to see immigration numbers reduced. Whilst only 8% of the British public think number of migrants coming to the UK from the EU will reduce, there in an increasing public support of more medical professionals. Over half of Britons say they want the number of doctors and nurses coming from the EU to be increased (up from 47% and 49%).

 

You can also find out how our video diarists enjoyed their second bank holiday under coronavirus lockdown. 

 

In other news 

As part of our Virtual Future of Research series, we’ll be hosting various webinars and bringing you regular bitesize content on a range of topics surrounding coronavirus. 

 

As ever, please do let us know what you think, and I hope you find something to interest you.
 

Ben Page
Chief Executive, Ipsos
[email protected]