The findings may suggest widespread support for the “levelling up” agenda espoused by the government as the country attempts to rebound after Covid, the authors said.
But it will also raise questions about the popularity of anti-inequality policies focusing on ethnic minorities and women.
Good! It's about time the people pushing this agenda learned what real people thought of it.
Nearly half of people believe those who lost their job during the pandemic were likely to have been underperforming, a survey has found.
In findings that will raise fears over inequalities in Britain, a study of attitudes by researchers at Kings College London showed a significant minority thought a widening post-Covid income gap between white people and BAME groups would not be a problem.
I don't believe it's a problem. I believe it's a teachable moment for those black or ethnic parents to point to them and say to their children 'This is how you don't approach life'..
In one of the starkest findings, one in eight Britons (13%) said they think black people are more likely to be unemployed and have lower incomes because they “lack motivation or willpower”.
Looking at the parade of black and ethnic criminals before the courts each day, who could doubt it?
They aren't there because they worked too hard, but because they sought quick returns, often by dealing illegal substances, or ignoring safety laws.
The authors said the overall findings showed “meritocratic and individualistic tendencies” are likely to temper calls for action on inequality.
“There is a strong belief in meritocracy in Britain – that hard work and ambition remain key drivers of success, and this colours views, even during a pandemic,” the report said.
That this reports says this as if it were something to be scorned tells you all you need to know...