Will 1914 matter in 2014? Nobody who experienced the war is still alive. Most of us struggle to recall more than the most basic facts about what happened and why. Yet, the first great global conflict remains a pivotal cultural reference point for understanding the last century and how it shaped the country we have become today.
In our report, Do mention the war, we highlight these points and more. Do mention the war draws on original research into what the public know and don’t know about the first world war, why they think next year’s centenary will matter and what they want it to be about.
The report features polling carried out for British Future by YouGov, which found that Britons struggle to tell the first world war and the second world war apart. For example, more people think Britain declared war in August 1914 because Germany invaded Poland (as was the case in 1939) than Belgium: only 13% knew the right answer.
Drawing on public workshops in England, Scotland and Wales, alongside the new national polling, the report also reveals why most people think we should seize this chance to learn, and explores which meanings of the centenary people agree on and which ones don’t.
Other highlights of Do mention the war include:
The @Telegraph reports on new @britishfuture research.
People are unhappy for different reasons: for Conservatives it's small boats & high numbers. For Labour supporters, ‘Creating a negative or fearful environment for migrants’ (42%) is as important as channel crossings (41%)
The paradox of immigration preferences in a nutshell -Majority of Conservative voters support large cuts to immigration, but most also oppose cutting the specific migrant groups who drive current inflows - in fact they want *more* migration from these groups
Does the UK public *really* want to cut immigration of people coming here to work?
@britishfuture immigration attitudes tracker suggests not...
Our @sundersays is talking to @BBCWales at 8.30 and @BBCNews at 10.30 about the new @britishfuture @IpsosUK Immigration Attitudes Tracker research published today https://www.britishfuture.org/new-attitudes-tracker-2024/
None of the political parties are well trusted on immigration: Labour comes out top across GB (trusted by 33%) & the SNP in Scotland. The Conservative Party is trusted by 22% of the public on immigration.
Reform UK is trusted by 26% on immigration, 3 points above the Lib Dems.
People don't know what migration they would cut. Nearly half of 2023 work visas were for health & care work, yet people want more of that migration not less.
Only around a quarter of the public would reduce migration for agriculture, construction, lorry drivers and hospitality
72% of Conservatives want immigration numbers reduced, with half wanting big reductions. But only 40% of Labour supporters want reductions, with more wanting numbers to stay the same or increase.
People are dissatisfied for different reasons.
For Conservatives it’s the failure to reduce boat crossings & immigration numbers.
Labour supporters are as likely to be unhappy because they feel the govt is too harsh towards migrants as they are to be worried about small boats.
Will this be an ‘immigration election’? Only for a minority.
Overall immigration is the 4th most important issue for people in the election.
For Conservatives it ranks 3rd, behind health and cost of living.
For Labour supporters it only ranks 12th
It finds that 69% of the public are dissatisfied with the way the current government is dealing with immigration, while just 9% say they are satisfied.
That is the highest dissatisfaction score in the nine-year history of the attitudes tracker.