Public attitudes 2025
Since 2007, we have monitored public attitudes towards elections and democracy in the UK. We conducted our latest study online in December 2024. The study had a representative sample of just under 6,000 respondents across the UK.
Unless otherwise stated any comparison is with 2024 figures.
Summary of findings
- There has been an increase in satisfaction with the administration of elections this year. Satisfaction with the process of voting and registering to vote, and confidence that elections are well run are close to an all-time high.
- Improvements were mostly among Labour supporters and supporters of other left-leaning parties. The post-election increase in satisfaction among these voters is unsurprising given the election result.
- Over half of respondents felt that elected representatives did not care about people like them. Only one in five felt that elected representatives did care about people like them.
- Concerns remain high about threats to democracy. Many people, especially young people, believe that elections in the UK are manipulated in some way. However, trust in institutions did not decline and perceptions of threats to democracy did not increase.
- There has been an increase in positive perceptions about party finance. This includes both transparency around finances and the belief that those who break the rules will face suitable punishment.
- Support for Voter ID has increased. Perceptions around the ease of voting remain consistent with pre-Voter ID levels.
- Social media is now the second most common news source (up from fifth last year). Television remains the most common news source. Trust in news from social media has increased. This is despite a rise in the proportion of people reporting seeing misinformation.
- People are more likely to say that bullying behaviours towards politicians are acceptable.
- The Electoral Commission has retained the increase in trust seen last year. Over half of respondents now say they trust us as an independent regulator.
Confidence in the running of UK elections is high
Following the UK general election, there has been an increase in:
- The proportion of people who believe elections are well-run
- The proportion of people who are satisfied with voting and registration processes
- The number of people who felt confident in their ability to vote and register. This has increased to 95% and 93%, respectively (up from 92% and 89%)
- The proportion of people satisfied with the way democracy works in the UK
Satisfaction of voters with the delivery of elections (Data from 2010-2025)
Percentage satisfied with the way democracy works in the UK
The most significant improvements in satisfaction have been among Labour and left-leaning supporters. The clear election result and change of government reassured many voters that elections are free and fair. Conservative supporters did not experience a decline in satisfaction. This is potentially due to the widely predicted nature of the election result. Reform UK supporters did show a decline in satisfaction.
Net confidence that elections are run well (broken down by political party affiliation)
Percentage satisfied with the way democracy works (broken down by political party affiliation)
Trust in politicians remains low
Trust in politicians remains low, with 14% of respondents sayings they trust politicians. This is a slight increase on 2024, when only 10% of respondents said they trusted politicians. This increase was also primarily among Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters.
Percentage of people who consider politicians untrustworthy (broken down by political party affiliation)
Despite the recent election, 54% of respondents believe that those elected do not care about people like them. Only 22% believe they do.
Trust in institutions remains low
For the first time in recent years, there has been no across-the-board decline in trust in institutions. However, trust remains low.
Percentage of people who say they have no faith in any institution
This chart shows the percentage that did not select that they have confidence in any of the following institutions: NHS, British Armed Forces, World Health Organisation, Bank of England, British Royal Family, United Nations, European Union, HMRC, British Government, Met police, House of Commons, IMF, World Bank, Church of England, European Central Bank, House of Lords, Roman Catholic Church.
Average number of problems perceived at elections
This chart shows the problems that were selected from this list of issues: low voter turnout, bias in the media, foreign influence, inadequate regulation of social media, inadequate control on party finance, barriers for participation for minority groups/disabled people. Political misinformation, which was only added to the list as a problem in 2024, was excluded from this calculation.
A sizeable minority think that elections in the UK are manipulated to some extent
Over half (57%) of respondents believe that UK elections are not manipulated or rigged. But, 31% think elections are manipulated to some extent.
Our question did not define how respondents should interpret either ‘rigged or ‘manipulated’. It is likely some people will have applied a broad definition. This could include concerns about media bias.
Young people (18-24) are more likely to believe elections are manipulated. 42% said that elections are manipulated or rigged to some extent. This is equal to the proportion who believe they are not manipulated or rigged at all.
Increase in support for a ‘strong leader’
More people now believe Britain needs a strong leader willing to break the rules. 43% agreed, while 31% disagreed. Last year, 39% agreed, and an equal proportion disagreed.
Labour supporters are now more likely to hold this belief. Support among Labour supporters rose from 27% to 38% following Labour’s victory. Meanwhile, views among Conservative supporters remained largely unchanged.
| Party | 2024 Agree (%) | 2025 Agree (%) | 2024 Disagree (%) | 2025 Disagree (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 27% | 38% | 54% | 39% |
| Conservative | 59% | 60% | 22% | 20% |
| Liberal Democrat | 27% | 30% | 53% | 46% |
| Green Party | 23% | 23% | 55% | 52% |
| Reform UK | 78% | 73% | 10% | 10% |
Improvements in perceptions of political finance transparency
After years of decline, positive perceptions of political finance transparency have slightly improved. This year, 18% agree that party spending and funding are open and transparent (up from 15% last year and 13% the year before).
Percentage that agree with statements about if political finance is transparent
25% of people (up from 20%) believe they could find out who funds political parties.
Growing confidence in political finance rule enforcement
There has been a notable improvement in perceptions of enforcement. 40% believe that rule breakers would face appropriate consequences, while 32% disagree. Last year, 38% agreed and 36% disagreed. Two years ago, more people disagreed (39%) than agreed (33%).
The most significant shift in attitude came from Labour supporters. Their belief in effective enforcement increased from 33% to 46%.
Most people found it easy to vote
This was the first UK general election since the introduction of voter ID in May 2023. Perceptions of how easy it is to vote have increased to 82% (up from 77% last year). aligning with levels seen before May 2023.
Support for Voter ID has also increased, with 73% now in favour, up from 65% last year. Over half of voters in Wales and Scotland believe they need voter ID for elections where it is not needed. 58% of voters in Wales and 52% in Scotland believe they need it for local elections.
Social media is the second-most used news source
Social media is now the second most-used news source. It has surpassed newspaper websites, radio, and news apps. People aged 25-44 have driven this increase who have maintained their media habits as they age.
Percentage of people who use social media as their main news source (broken down by age group)
Increased trust in social media
Trust in social media as a news source has increased, particularly among those who rely on it for news. But, social media does have low levels of trust compared to television and radio.
More people also report seeing misinformation on social media This has risen from 77% in 2023 to 80% in 2024. In contrast, only 40% of people who get their news from television report seeing misinformation.
Percentage of people who trust different sources of news
Intimidation of politicians
Following the 2024 UK general election, public concerns about candidate intimidation increased. 35% of respondents identified it as a problem (up from 27% last year).
In recent years, less people say that bullying behaviours towards candidates is unacceptable.
Young people are more likely to find these bullying behaviours acceptable. Only 25% of 18-24 year old’s say that it is unacceptable to verbally threaten a politician in public. In contrast, 71% of those aged 75+ say it is unacceptable to verbally threaten a politician in public.
Percentage of people who think behaviours that could be interpreted as bullying are unacceptable
Increased trust in The Electoral Commission
Trust in The Electoral Commission has continued to rise. 52% now say they trust The Electoral Commission, up from 50% last year and 43% two years ago. The proportion who trust the Commission "a lot" has increased from 11% to 19% over the same period.