Nearly half of people from ethnic minority backgrounds in Britain say they experienced racial or nationality prejudice over the past year, according to research suggesting that progress on equality has stalled or reversed. A major new study published by British Future on 15 September 2026 reveals widespread concern that discrimination has become more entrenched, with divisions deepening between how different communities perceive fairness and treatment.
The research, which surveyed 2,009 white adults and 3,014 ethnic minority adults between 30 March and 29 April, supplemented by 12 focus groups, found that 62% of ethnic minority Britons regard racial inequality as a serious problem. This view is shared by 57% of white respondents, yet the two groups diverge sharply on the causes and solutions. White respondents were considerably less inclined to recognise structural barriers in education, employment and public services, and more likely to believe that minority communities already receive equal or preferential treatment.
Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, highlighted the paradox at the heart of public sentiment:
Most ethnic minorities in Britain feel there was a positive change against racism in our lifetimes yet now fear that progress being reversed.
Where is prejudice most commonly experienced?
Prejudice was reported most frequently in public spaces, followed by encounters on social media and in workplace settings. Young people aged 18 to 24 from ethnic minority backgrounds reported significantly higher rates of discrimination than older age groups, suggesting that younger generations face particular challenges despite growing awareness of equality issues.
How do perceptions differ between ethnic groups?
Attitudes towards racial progress vary considerably within ethnic minority communities themselves. Black respondents were found to be notably more optimistic about the UK's trajectory on racial equality, whereas those of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage expressed greater pessimism. The research suggested that heightened anxiety among these latter groups appeared connected to the 2024 riots and their aftermath. Women, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, demonstrated greater pessimism than men across all measures.
What divides public opinion most deeply?
Divisions based on age and political affiliation proved deeper than those rooted in ethnicity alone. The report noted that
in both the white and ethnic minority surveys, gaps between rich and poor are seen as the most important divide impacting the UK.This finding suggests that economic inequality may be shaping perceptions of racial fairness more than ethnicity itself.
A striking polarisation emerged over whether ethnic minorities receive preferential treatment. Among white respondents, 37% believed ethnic minorities were treated better than white British people, while 33% disagreed. Among ethnic minority respondents, only 23% agreed with this view, while 48% disagreed—indicating a fundamental gap in how the two groups perceive the distribution of advantage and disadvantage.
What does the research show about trust in political parties?
Trust in political parties to treat people of different backgrounds fairly remains low across the board. The Green Party and Labour held narrow leads in net trust scores, at +15 and +13 respectively, while Reform UK recorded a net score of −31, with only 16% expressing trust compared to 47% expressing distrust. This pattern reflects broader anxieties about whether any political force is genuinely committed to addressing racial inequality.
The research highlighted specific areas where ethnic minority Britons want to see greater action: equal pay, the elimination of disparities in essential services, and fairer treatment in media reporting. The report brought this last concern into
sharp focusby reference to the intense media scrutiny surrounding a Cambridge University professor who died at his London home following allegations of plagiarism, suggesting that media coverage itself can amplify perceptions of unequal treatment.
What are the key recommendations?
British Future criticised successive governments for having
rarely heldsustained focus on race issues. The organisation laid out 10 recommendations for government action, including challenging zero-sum thinking about race equality—the false belief that fairness for ethnic minorities necessarily comes at the expense of the white majority, or vice versa. Other recommendations include supporting grassroots activities and pressing the media regulator Ofcom to enforce compliance against online racism more rigorously.
Katwala emphasised the need for leadership that reframes the debate:
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. 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.
The findings arrive as the UK government's Race Equality Engagement Group has continued through 2026, reflecting ongoing official concern about race inequality. This sustained governmental engagement suggests recognition that the issues identified in the British Future research demand coordinated policy responses.
What happens next?
British Future's "Voices for Equity" programme is continuing in 2026 to turn research into policy recommendations on racial inequity, indicating that the organisation intends to move beyond diagnosis to concrete advocacy for change. The research forms part of a three-year study examining how public attitudes towards race and equality are evolving, with implications for how policymakers and community leaders approach these deeply contested issues.
Key Facts
- Nearly 50% of ethnic minority respondents reported experiencing racial or nationality prejudice in the past year, with rates highest among those aged 18–24
- 62% of ethnic minority Britons and 57% of white Britons view racial inequality as a serious problem, yet they differ sharply on causes and solutions
- Black respondents were more optimistic about racial progress, while those of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage expressed greater pessimism, linked partly to the 2024 riots
- Economic inequality was identified as a more significant divide than ethnicity in shaping public attitudes
- Reform UK recorded a net trust score of −31 on treating people of different backgrounds fairly, compared to +15 for the Green Party and +13 for Labour
