Ipsos Research Highlights - 30 April 2020
This week's Ipsos Research Highlights features who the British public think is doing a good job of holding the Government to account, confidence in the NHS and news about home testing.
Journalists seen to be doing a better job of holding the Government to account on coronavirus than MPs and the Opposition
Forty-three percent of Britons think journalists at the Government’s coronavirus daily briefings are doing a good job of holding the Government to account. Just 18% believe the Labour party has done a good job at holding the Government to account. The Labour party does not seem to be in a good position of imposing change within Britain, but this may be due to Keir Starmer's lack of visibility. More Britons (34%) say that Starmer is neither doing a good job nor a bad job, while just 20% saying he is doing a bad job.
Britons least likely to believe the economy and businesses should open if coronavirus not fully contained
The majority of people in eight of the 14 countries polled are against opening the economy if the virus is not fully under control. Canada (70%) and Mexico (65%) were among those mostly likely to be against this, whereas three in five respondents in Russia and China agree. Overall, Britons are among the most cautious when it comes to life after coronavirus, with 71% nervous about leaving their homes even after businesses reopen.
Spike in Britons thinking the Government acted ‘too late’ to address virus but confidence in the NHS continues to grow
Confidence in the NHS is steadily growing and now stands at 82%, up from 62% in mid-March. Confidence in the NHS is also reflected in the overall drop in concern the British public feel about coronavirus as a whole. Just 28% of Britons are 'very concerned' about the personal risk of coronavirus – down from 36% – and 49% are concerned for the country as a whole.
Britons spend less and prepare to save more as coronavirus outbreak affects jobs and businesses
Even with the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, the British public are continuing to pull their purse strings as they prepare for the worst. Almost two-thirds of Britons have been spending less money overall due to the coronavirus outbreak, and 46% have already accessed their savings. One in five (21%) of people have been furlough and 17% of people have seen a reduction in take-home pay. 
Major home testing programme for coronavirus will track levels of infection in the community
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has very recently commissioned Imperial College London and Ipsos to undertake several COVID-19 in home testing research studies. The studies relate to a rapid assessment of baseline prevalence of infection in the community in England.
In other news
As we continue to stay home, our TV viewing has soared. Our new study for ThinkBox follows 12 households across the UK as their routines, needs and viewing habits change week-by-week.
While families are spending more time at home they are also engaging more with media content and are willing to experiment with new technologies. Our latest ethnographic research looks at how children and parents engage with new voice technology.
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]