Average person’s life saw ‘no meaningful improvement’ over past year – charity
The average person saw “no meaningful improvement in their life” over Labour’s first year in power, a survey has suggested.
The annual “Life in the UK” survey of 7,000 people carried out by charity Carnegie UK found stagnating wellbeing and persistent economic hardship for millions since 2023.
Sarah Davidson, the charity’s chief executive, said the survey “shows that between May 2024 and May 2025, the average person in the UK saw no meaningful improvement in their life”.
She added: “Public services and systems are barely working for too many households, and our research shows that poorer people, larger families and people in social housing are still getting left behind.”
Hope
Ms Davidson acknowledged that there were “some emerging signs of hope”, with people finding it more affordable to heat their homes and “slight improvements” in mental and physical health.
But she warned that these improvements were not evenly distributed, with older, wealthier homeowners reporting much higher wellbeing than younger, poorer people in less secure housing.
She said: “Underlying all these results is the inescapable fact that significant and damaging inequalities persist across all parts of the UK.”
The Life in the UK survey asked a range of questions on economic, social, environmental and democratic topics to come up with an overall “wellbeing score” out of 100.
Wellbeing score
This year’s survey reported an overall wellbeing score of 62, one point higher than last year and the same score as 2023.
Some 79% said they could afford to heat their homes adequately, two points higher than last year and six points higher than in 2023, while 68% said their general health was good or very good, up three points from 2023.
But there was widespread discontent with local job opportunities, with just 26% saying they were satisfied with those available, down from 31% the year before.
And some 83% said there were problems with litter in their neighbourhood, an increase on previous years.
The survey also found widespread dissatisfaction with British democracy, some 72% saying they felt they could not influence decisions affecting the UK.
But the survey also found a significant increase in faith in the Westminster, with 54% saying they had medium or high trust in the UK Government, up nine points from 2024.
The survey, carried out with pollster Ipsos UK, polled 7,106 UK adults between May 8 and 14 this year.
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‘How not to do the right thing for Dummies’ and the author from Cork is still there. The architect of our discontent is a smirking unelected teflon man pulling the strings or so it seems…
On the other hand, white horses are galloping across the reef as breaking seas crash into the bay on a stiff northwesterly, I’m alive to witness the splendor of the Celtic edge of Europe where once giants and saints crossed daily…deo gratias…
… in other news… water remains wet. The last time I think the average person saw meaningful improvement was… possibly under Blair?
2007-08 was the beginning of a long period of rot. Blair/Brown led us into it, succession of Tories rubbed our noses in it and Starmer says he wants to turn things around but doesn’t seem to know which way he’s pointed. Bleedin’ hopeless!
Think American sub-prime mortgages were the factor in 2008 banking crash? Gordon Brown practically saved the entire banking system.
While I agree that there has not been any improvement since the Global Financial Crisis. I disagree that Blair / Brown led us into it. Neo-liberal loose regulation was the cause which while Blair and Brown were adherents it wasn’t their invention. Relying on ‘the market’ to self regulate was a philosophy they inherited.
I agree, those already with wealth could ride out the storm and later emerge even wealthier. When austerity kicked in, it was the average earner and public services that took the hit.
We get lots of reports, but little analysis behind them / poor economic advice. Retired individuals are getting their pensions increases higher than public sector staff; so their wellbeing will be affected. Labour has made changes to farmers incomes, so their wellbeing will decrease. What we all need is advice on how to manage finances better, so we are prepared for economic shocks. I shop in Waitrose 0800 Monday mornings, when they drop prices by 50% and sell products such as meats cheaper than Aldi. Plus have occasionally visited petrol station shops on Saturday nights during international football matches when… Read more »
You sound fortunate enough to have a car. What about for those that don’t? The bus services here in East Cardiff are unreliable. My son’s bus did not turn and he had to get a lift in to the center. That is just one incident but it knocks confidence in public services and everything you advice of shopping around goes out of the window. How will I get home with all my shopping bags if the bus doesn’t arrive?
Refusing to impose a 2% wealth tax to appease the wealthy is leading to everyone else beneath to suffer.
It will be interesting to see what the Budget brings. Taxes on land and unearned wealth could be a start at least, but to expect any government to turn things around in just over a year is for the birds.
After farages brexit, Tory austerity, Thatcher selling off the crown jewels, tinkering around the edges wont cut it. Joining the EU in some form leading to getting in fully is the only way.
Now, about musk and Bezos and Zuckerberg, they have some spare loot. As do the other billionaires and millionaires.
Declinism is well established in the UK and EU and not without good reason.
Let’s see what’s in the budget. Agree that govt have made cocktails ups, but it is only one year after 14 years of neglect!
I think ‘neglect’ is a very generous term for wholesale plunder of the commons. There was no need for austerity. It was an excuse to rope in what the Tories felt was the remaining power of the Unions, and to put the blame on the previous administration. They succeeded, and this is why we’re here now. The gift of Brexit was their parting shot.
And therein lies a big part of the explanation of what happened in Caerphilly last week.
Why would anything improve? There’s fifty years of decline to get through before we can reap the benefits of Brexit. Jacob said so.