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Changes in political trust in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: integrated public opinion evidence and implications

Author

Listed:
  • Ben Davies

    (University of Kent)

  • Fanny Lalot

    (University of Kent)

  • Linus Peitz

    (University of Kent)

  • Maria S. Heering

    (University of Kent)

  • Hilal Ozkececi

    (University of Kent)

  • Jacinta Babaian

    (University of Kent)

  • Kaya Davies Hayon

    (Belong–The Cohesion and Integration Network)

  • Jo Broadwood

    (Belong–The Cohesion and Integration Network)

  • Dominic Abrams

    (University of Kent)

Abstract

In this paper, we document changes in political trust in the UK throughout 2020 so as to consider wider implications for the ongoing handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analysed data from 18 survey organisations with measures on political trust (general, leadership, and COVID-19-related) spanning the period December 2019–October 2020. We examined the percentage of trust and distrust across time, identifying where significant changes coincide with national events. Levels of political trust were low following the 2019 UK General Election. They rose at the onset of UK lockdown imposed in March 2020 but showed persistent gradual decline throughout the remainder of the year, falling to pre-COVID levels by October 2020. Inability to sustain the elevated political trust achieved at the onset of the pandemic is likely to have made the management of public confidence and behaviour increasingly challenging, pointing to the need for strategies to sustain trust levels when handling future crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Davies & Fanny Lalot & Linus Peitz & Maria S. Heering & Hilal Ozkececi & Jacinta Babaian & Kaya Davies Hayon & Jo Broadwood & Dominic Abrams, 2021. "Changes in political trust in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: integrated public opinion evidence and implications," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:8:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-021-00850-6
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-021-00850-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Vidmantė Giedraitytė & Rasa Smaliukienė & Tomas Vedlūga, 2022. "The Impact of Citizen Participation on Public Sentiments during Crises: Comparative Study of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Monica Martinez-Bravo & Carlos Sanz, 2022. "The Management of the Pandemic and its Effects on Trust and Accountability," Working Papers wp2022_2207, CEMFI.
    3. Daryna Grechyna, 2024. "Elections and policies: Evidence from the Covid pandemic," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 77(3), pages 812-831, August.
    4. Vítor Castro & Rodrigo Martins, 2024. "Government popularity in the UK during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 1382-1415, November.
    5. Mengjun Zhang & Bei Liu & Guochun Xiang & Xuqiang Yan & Yuting Ling & Chao Zuo, 2024. "Navigating the shift: understanding public trust in authorities amidst policy shifts in China’s COVID-19 response," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.

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