United Nations Association – UK Values Survey

Public survey of values and attitudes on behalf of the United Nations Association.

Two in three British adults (65%) state that they would tell their friend if they thought they were doing something morally wrong, and seven in ten (70%) say they think the British government should do the same when an ally abuses human rights. Just 16% say government shouldn’t intervene in its allies’ issues.

The majority of British adults report that protecting the environment is a priority for them (58%), slightly more say that the British government should make it a domestic and international priority (65%).

A small majority of Britons report that in order to feel safe at home it’s more important that their house is strongly secured than they know and trust their neighbours (54% v 37%). When it comes to national security however, the majority say strong international relationships are more important than a powerful military (57% v 25%).

One in five British adults (21%) say they would consider disobeying the law if obeying it meant they would lose out financially. Whilst the majority of British adults (65%) report that they would always obey the law even if it meant they would lose out financially.

Half of British adults (50%) say that the British government should not always adhere to international laws if doing so means changing our domestic laws, whilst a third (34%) state that the British government should always adhere to international laws even if it means changing our domestic laws.

Whilst the majority of British adults (57%) report that it is equally important to look after your community and to help strangers, when it comes to the British government, only three in ten (30%) state that the British government’s foreign policy should treat UK and non-UK citizens equally. Similarly, only 28% of British adults say that the British government should spend our foreign aid budget on tackling humanitarian crises overseas, whilst three in five (59%) state they should spend it at home.

Date Published: 16th December 2016

Categories: GB | Public and communities

Client: United Nations Association

Methodology

ComRes interviewed 2033 GB adults aged 18+ between 16^th and 17^th November 2016. Data were weighted by age, gender, region and socio-economic grade to be representative of all GB adults. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.