A British Future thinktank study reveals that many Britons across ethnic groups feel racial equality is deteriorating in Britain. The report, based on surveys of 2,009 white adults and 3,014 ethnic minority adults conducted from March to April, found that nearly half of ethnic minorities had experienced racial or nationality prejudice within the past year. Key disparities were noted between age groups and political views, with younger people and those aged 18-24 reporting higher levels of discrimination. The study also highlighted a growing divide over perceptions of preferential treatment towards minority communities, with some white respondents believing minorities receive better treatment than they do.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A British Future thinktank report reveals that many Britons feel racial equality is worsening. The study, supported by the Nuffield Foundation, indicates that one in six British residents are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Nearly half of these respondents reported experiencing racial or nationality prejudice over the past year, with those aged 18 to 24 facing particularly high levels of discrimination. The report highlights significant disparities: while 62% of ethnic minority Britons view racial inequality as a serious issue, only 57% of white respondents agree. Additionally, ethnic minorities are more likely to perceive structural barriers in education, work, and public services compared to the white population, which is less inclined to see such disparities. The thinktank calls on successive governments to focus on combating racism and suggests 10 recommendations, including challenging zero-sum thinking and supporting grassroots activities aimed at addressing racial inequality.
Written for “Racial Equality Perception Decline UK” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Many Britons feel inequality is worsening and that discrimination has become more common, according to a thinktank study.
uncertain
discrimination → feel → study
The report by British Future has found that people across ethnic groups believe racial equality is worsening in Britain.
asserted
equality → find → Britain
“Most ethnic minorities in Britain feel there was a positive change against racism in our lifetimes yet now fear that progress being reversed,” said the thinktank’s director, Sunder Katwala.
asserted
director → feel → lifetimes
The research found nearly half of ethnic minority respondents had faced racial or nationality prejudice over the past year, with the problem notably higher among those aged 18 to 24.
asserted
problem → find → those
Prejudice was most often reported in public spaces, followed by on social media and in the workplace.
asserted
Prejudice → report → workplace
The research found that 62% of ethnic minority Britons saw racial inequality as a serious problem, a view supported by 57% of the white population.
asserted
% → find → population
White respondents were less likely to see structural barriers in education, work and public services and more likely to believe minority communities received equal or preferential treatment.
asserted
communities → see → treatment
The report, part of a three-year study funded by the Nuffield Foundation, found a growing polarisation over perceptions that minorities received preferential treatment.
asserted
minorities → fund → treatment
Among white respondents, 37% felt ethnic minorities were treated better than white British people, while 33% disagreed.
asserted
% → feel → people
Among ethnic minorities, 23% agreed and 48% disagreed.
asserted
% → agree → minorities
The report found divisions by age and politics were deeper than those relating to ethnicity.
asserted
divisions → find → ethnicity
“In both the white and ethnic minority surveys, gaps between rich and poor are seen as the most important divide impacting the UK,” the report said.
asserted
report → see → UK
The research was driven by two online surveys of 2,009 white adults and 3,014 ethnic minority adults between 30 March and 29 April.
asserted
research → drive → March
It was supplemented by information from 12 focus groups.
asserted
It → supplement → groups
The study noted a difference within ethnic minority attitudes, finding Black respondents were frequently more positive about the UK making progress on racial equality.
asserted
UK → note → equality
By contrast, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage respondents were found to be more pessimistic, with heightened anxiety seemingly linked to the 2024 riots.
asserted
anxiety → find → riots
“Women, particularly ethnic minority women, are also more pessimistic than men throughout,” the report said.
asserted
report → say → men
The study found that ethnic minority Britons would like to see more effort to promote equal pay and tackle disparities in essential services and unequal treatment in media reporting.
asserted
Britons → find → reporting
This was brought into “sharp focus”, the report said, by the intense media scrutiny on Jason Arday, a Cambridge University professor who died at his London home after allegations of plagiarism.
asserted
who → bring → plagiarism
The report, which criticised successive governments for having “rarely held” a sustained focus on race, laid out 10 recommendations for the government, including challenging zero-sum thinking, supporting grassroots activities and pushing the watchdog Ofcom on compliance against online racism.
asserted
which → criticise → racism
Overall, it found low trust among political parties.
asserted
it → find → parties
While the Green party and Labour led narrowly in terms of treating people of different backgrounds fairly (+15 and +13 in net trust scores respectively), Reform UK had a net score of -31 (16% trust/47% distrust).
asserted
UK → lead → -31
Katwala said leaders should “counter the sense of a zero-sum contest over race equality: that fairness for ethnic minorities comes at the expense of the white majority, or vice versa”.
asserted
fairness → say → majority
He added: “The antidote to that is to pursue a broad and proactive fairness agenda – with the confidence and tools to tackle racism and discrimination where it is most needed.”
asserted
it → add → racism
The Aporia
