Public believes pandemic has increased social inequality

Call for the most disadvantaged to be put at heart of UK’s recovery plan

Most people believe social inequality has increased because of the coronavirus pandemic, a new poll has found.

The research, for the Social Mobility Commission, shows almost six in 10 people, or 56 per cent, believed the gap between the social classes had increased over the course of the last year.

And one in three said they thought inequality had increased significantly, the YouGov survey of almost 4,700 adults found.

The commission warned there was growing evidence that those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds were being hardest hit by the pandemic.

These included young people from poor backgrounds losing jobs and children from disadvantaged families, who often struggle with digital access, falling behind at school.

Steven Cooper, the interim co-chair of the commission, said: “The pandemic has had a devastating impact on jobs, training and mental health, particularly among the most disadvantaged groups.

“This poll dramatically underlines public concern about growing social inequality. Government, employers and educators should listen and act. The most disadvantaged – at home, school or work – should now be put centre-stage in any recovery plan.”

In a challenge to Boris Johnson’s “levelling up” agenda, the poll also found that three in four people, or 74 per cent, thought there were large differences in opportunities across the country.

The survey also revealed that people tended to think they were better off than their parents when it came to education, their financial situation, their standard of living and their housing.

But they believed that they were worse off when it came to job security.

The commission hopes its upcoming move to the Cabinet Office will help it shape the government’s plans.

The YouGov survey was carried out online between 27 January and 1 February this year.