YouGov

🧵/ In principle, 74% of Britons favour water companies being nationalised and run in the public sector, as the government ponders the future of the water industry However, a new study reveals that support for nationalisation is dependent on it not bringing additional personal costs

Even if it had no impact on water bills, Britons would still support nationalising water companies by a margin of 60% to 20% However, support falls to just 30% if nationalisation required the government to increase taxes, borrowing or water charges in order to operate the water companies

🧵/ In principle, 74% of Britons favour water companies being nationalised and run in the public sector, as the government ponders the future of the water industry However, a new study reveals that support for nationalisation is dependent on it not bringing additional personal costs

At present, the public tend to see water companies as doing a bad job, though opinion is more positive in Scotland, where water is nationalised Net good job: E+W / S Responding to complaints: -28 / -11 Investing in infrastructure: -50 / -10 Protecting environment: -51 / -9 Cost of bills: -55 / =0

Our latest Westminster voting intention poll (25-26 October 2026) shows a five point lead for Labour Labour: 27% (no change from 18-19 Oct) Conservative: 22% (-1) Reform UK: 20% (-2) Lib Dem: 11% (=) Green: 10% (=) Restore Britain: 4% (+1) SNP: 2% (=) Plaid Cymru: 1% (=) yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

With Sly Stallone saying 'you’re not a good parent if you haven’t performed nepotism' public are split on rich & famous getting jobs for their kids -Should do this, be bad parents if they didn't: 41% -Shouldn't do this, but don't blame them: 37% -Harming society + being bad people for doing so: 5%

Most young people now watch TV with the subtitles on 18-24yr olds: 53% 25-34yr olds: 46% 35-44yr olds: 35% 45-54yr olds: 24% 55-64yr olds: 20% 65-74yr olds: 22% 75+yr olds: 31% yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

As the government issues new guidance on being prepared for emergencies, most Britons say their household is poorly or not at all prepared for a crisis that disrupted essential supply chains Very prepared: 5% Fairly prepared: 33% Not very prepared: 41% Not at all prepared: 17%

What is the UK's national dish? Fish and chips: 49% Roast dinner: 24% Chicken tikka masala: 3% Curry (non-specific/other): 2% Full English: 2% Bangers and mash: 1% Cottage/shepherd's pie: 1% yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

What do different generations say the UK's national dish is? Fish and chips is the top choice by some margin among all age groups (45-50%) 18-24 year olds are more likely than other age groups to say chicken tikka masala (11% vs 0-2%), while 14-29% say roast dinners yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

With Caribbean delegates expected to raise issue of slave trade reparations at a forthcoming Commonwealth meeting, only 24% of the public are in favour All adults: 24% support / 60% oppose White adults: 19% / 66% Ethnic minority adults: 50% / 32% Black adults: 71% / 15% yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

55% of Britons back the government's decision to approve gas extraction from the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea Support: 55% Oppose: 18% yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...

Belief that Reform and the Greens are 'main parties' in Britain today has fallen back in recent months, with Labour and the Tories now the only parties seen as such by a majority of Britons Labour: 90% (+8 from 20-21 May) Conservatives: 86% (+8) Reform: 44% (-17) Lib Dems: 34% (-4) Greens: 16% (-8)

Support for potential Labour-led coalitions in the event of a future hung parliament has risen since the start of the year Lab, with LDs: 42% support (+11 since Dec 2025) Lab, with Grn: 38% (+5) Con, with LDs: 26% (+2) Con, with Ref: 25% (=) Lab, with Con: 25% (+9) Ref, with Con: 24% (-5)

Kemi Badenoch has ruled out a coalition with Reform, and those who voted Tory in 2024 have likewise become less receptive to teaming up with the party Con+Ref, Badenoch PM 2024 Con: +23 net support (-15 from Dec 2025) 2024 Ref: +22 (+11) Ref+Con, Farage PM 2024 Ref: +57 (-10) 2024 Con: -13 (-18)

Support for potential Labour-led coalitions in the event of a future hung parliament has risen since the start of the year Lab, with LDs: 42% support (+11 since Dec 2025) Lab, with Grn: 38% (+5) Con, with LDs: 26% (+2) Con, with Ref: 25% (=) Lab, with Con: 25% (+9) Ref, with Con: 24% (-5)

Majorities of Labour, Lib Dem and Green supporters would in principle support Lab-led coalitions involving either or both of the two smaller parties Most Conservative and Reform supporters would support a Badenoch-led coalition between the two parties, but Tories are opposed if Farage was in charge

Britons are now split 3 ways on tax and spend, with desire for tax and spending cuts increasing since last year Increase taxes, spend more on services: 26% (-4 from Jun 2025) Keep at current levels: 27% (-6) Decrease taxes, spend less on services: 26% (+9) yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

Of 8 public spending areas polled, welfare has been the only area attitudes have shifted since mid-2025 Increase budget: 11% (-7) Keep same: 28% (-5) Cut budget: 54% (+13) yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

Britons are now split 3 ways on tax and spend, with desire for tax and spending cuts increasing since last year Increase taxes, spend more on services: 26% (-4 from Jun 2025) Keep at current levels: 27% (-6) Decrease taxes, spend less on services: 26% (+9) yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

Increasing public preference for tax and spending cuts is primarily driven by 2024 Tory and Reform voters % saying govt should decrease taxes and spend less on public services Reform: 50% (+16 from Jun 2025) Con: 44% (+21) Lib Dem: 17% (+6) Lab: 14% (+6) Green: 10% (+4) yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

After Andy Burnham agreed with a LadBible podcast that Gen Z have it harder than Baby Boomers did, do the British public agree? Gen Z have it harder: 36% Boomers had it harder: 25% Both have had it equally hard: 24% yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...