Three quarters of UK adults say Britain is divided – with only half feeling comfortable discussing sensitive topics with their partner, as the British Red Cross launches podcast to help people navigate division

• New research by the British Red Cross reveals that three quarters of UK adults (75%) believe the UK is divided, with almost as many (72%) saying they think UK society is more divided now than five years ago.
• Only half of those questioned felt comfortable discussing divisive topics like immigration, global conflicts and politics with their partner.
• The British Red Cross is launching Bridging Divides, a new podcast hosted by broadcaster Sonali Shah, bringing expert insight and practical tools to help people spark open conversations and approach difficult topics differently.
• The podcast series aims to help people stay connected in an increasingly disconnected world, as part of the new and growing Bridging Divides community.

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.

ENDS   

Notes to editors  

About the research

The British Red Cross commissioned Opinium Research to ask 2,000 UK adults about their views on divisions in society. The online survey was carried out from 13th to 17th March 2026, and the results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.

Other findings included: 

• Respondents felt slightly more comfortable speaking to friends about immigration (52%), global conflicts (57%), and politics (51%), compared to other groups.
• Only around one in three respondents found it comfortable to speak to their siblings about immigration (31%), global conflicts (33%), and politics (30%).
• Similarly, only around one in three respondents found it comfortable to speak to their parents about immigration (30%), global conflicts (32%), and politics (30%).
• Among different age groups, Generation X – those aged 46 to 61 – were most likely to say the UK is divided (85%), with Generation Z – aged 18 to 29 – the least likely (61%).
• More than half (56%) of 18 to 34-year-olds said they’d had an argument about divisive topics with someone they loved.
• However, a large majority of respondents (86%) said it was important to listen to people’s views, even if they strongly disagreed. 

About Bridging Divides

Together, we’re building a community of people who are here for each other – united by humanity and who want to see a more connected and compassionate future. 

Bridging Divides is about choosing compassion in a divided world. Once you join the Bridging Divides community, you’ll be sent weekly episodes of our first podcast series, as well as practical tools and inspiring stories, straight to your inbox. 

Every podcast episode will be available on the British Red Cross YouTube channel, as well as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

See more at https://www.bridgingdivides.org.uk

About the British Red Cross

For over 150 years, the British Red Cross has helped people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. With millions of volunteers in over 190 countries, the British Red Cross is part of an international humanitarian Movement that’s there for people before, during and after a crisis. Together, we are the world’s emergency responders. www.redcross.org.uk