Three quarters of UK adults (75%) believe the UK is divided as a country, new research from the British Red Cross has revealed. A nationwide poll for the charity also found that almost as many (72%) feel the country has become more divided in the past five years.
The findings come as the British Red Cross releases Bridging Divides, a podcast series exploring why people find it difficult to discuss divisive topics and offering practical steps to have open, empathetic conversations with people we disagree with.
The survey also found that many people find it difficult to discuss divisive topics – even with their closest loved ones. Only half (50%) said they were comfortable discussing immigration with their partner or spouse, while 49% said they would be comfortable discussing global conflicts and 48% politics with their partner.
Fewer people say they feel comfortable discussing divisive topics with their in‑laws or partner’s parents than with other family members (immigration: 14%, global conflicts: 17%, politics: 15%). This likely reflects both lower comfort levels and the fact that fewer people have, or regularly interact with, in‑laws compared with other family members.
Three quarters (75%) identified ways in which a less divided society would have a positive impact in their area, with over a third (34%) saying people would be likely to feel safer within their community.
Hosted by broadcaster Sonali Shah (Escape to the Country, ITV 1’s Tonight), the Bridging Divides podcast features leading experts who explain what happens in our brains when we disagree with someone and how we can better understand and connect with people who don’t share our views.
The series is part of their new and growing Bridging Divides community of people looking to stay connected and choose compassion in a divided world.
At a time when rising divisions are increasingly affecting communities, the British Red Cross Bridging Divides community will support people to connect across differences and build community resilience, drawing on more than 150 years of helping people in crisis.
Béatrice Butsana-Sita, CEO at the British Red Cross, said:
“Across the UK, people tell us their communities feel more divided and that can make everyday conversations harder. At the British Red Cross, our teams see how division can weaken relationships and leave communities more vulnerable when crisis strikes.
“That’s why we created Bridging Divides, a community of people choosing compassion and unity during challenging times. Our new podcast will share practical tools and insight to help people talk openly and stay connected, even when viewpoints differ. By strengthening understanding, we hope to build a more resilient UK – one conversation at a time.”
Sonali Shah, broadcaster and the host of Bridging Divides, said:
“It’s deeply important to me to try to shift the focus from what divides us to what we have in common – and this feels like absolutely the right time for this kind of podcast.
“When we avoid having important discussions because we’re worried they’ll turn divisive, it has a real effect on our relationships, whether that’s with friends, family or people in our community. What we are seeing is people finding it very hard to maintain those important connections, and that’s why I’m so pleased to be a part of Bridging Divides.”
Gabrielle Rifkind, conflict mediator, psychotherapist and contributor to the Bridging Divides podcast, said:
“One of the problems we face when discussing divisive topics is that we want everyone to agree with us. It can be hard to manage our differences and respect them, and often it’s hardest to have these conversations with the people closest to us. But when we reflect on our own behaviour, we have the capacity to change things.”
Practical advice
The Bridging Divides podcast offers practical tips to help people have open and respectful conversations about difficult or divisive topics. Some key points include:
- Focus on common ground, not difference. Start a conversation from what we share, not what we disagree on.
- Be curious – and realistic. Don’t try to change someone’s mind or aim to ‘win’ a conversation. Instead, remain open and listen.
- Ask someone three questions about their views before sharing your own. This slows the pace of conversation and helps you to understand where someone’s ideas are coming from.
- Be aware of echo chambers, particularly on social media. Follow credible sources, seek out alternative views and remove hateful or upsetting content from your feeds.
- When you hear something from someone you dislike or distrust, imagine it coming from someone else and see whether your opinion changes.
