The nationally representative survey, conducted by Whitestone Insight between the 31st July and 4th August 2024 shows that all religious groups agree with the statement, with each group agreeing at the following rate:
- Christians – 69%
- Muslims – 82%
- Hindus – 84%
- Jews – 77%
The same research suggests that only 42% of the British public agree that “British politicians should listen to what faith leaders have to say on social and political issues”, compared to just 32% disagreeing.
Hindus and Budhists afforded the most importance to secularism with Muslims and Sikhs least in agreement that law and religion should be kept separate. Those of Abrahamic faith felt most British whilst Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhist felt greater affinity to their faith over their british identity.
Hindus were the faith group that has avoided telling people about their faith the most in the last four weeks at 46%, followed by Jews at 30%, Muslims at 24% and then Christians at 13%.
Dr. Jake Scott, Secretary of IIFL, says
The British public is welcoming of a plurality of faiths in British politics, recognising the broad need to reflect the increasing diversity of Britain’s faith groups.
The additional rise in secularism as the mainstream attitude towards the relationship between faith and politics, and the majority of people of faith showing that they feel equally British and of their faith, shows the reality of people of faith in the UK feeling patriotic and at home.
For any further information or commentary, please contact Dr Jake Scott, secretary for the Institute.
Dr Jake Scott
jake.scott@iifl.org.uk
Notes for editors:
- Whitestone Insight interviewed 2,279 UK adults online between 31st July and 4th August 2024. Data were weighted to be representative of all UK adults. Whitestone Insight is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
- The survey included a booster sample of 215 Jews.
- Respondents of the Sikh, Jewish, Buddhist and other faiths were too small in number to draw statistically significant conclusions from.
- The data set for the June tracker can be found here.