A new poll has found 76% of Brits don’t trust what they see in the media after the controversy around Kate Middleton’s manipulated Mother’s Day photograph. 

The picture of the Princess of Wales and her three children George, Charlotte, and Louis, was released on Sunday but pulled by news agencies after apparent errors in the image were spotted. 

Pollsters at WeThink gauged Britain’s reaction to the image and found that 76% said they did not trust what they see in the media with only 24% saying they did. 

WeThink also asked if the media should publish images that are paid for and handed to newsdesks by the following organisations and institutions: 

The Royal Family 

Political parties

The Government

WeThink also asked if foreign states should be allowed to own British newspapers:

GENERAL ELECTION WATCH

Rumours were swirling about the possibility of a general electioin in May, although these were later quashed by the Prime Minister. However, Britain has a different expectation. 

WeThink asked when voters want a general election: 

Next six months (changes from last week in brackets)

Immediately

We asked if people think Rishi Sunak will be Prime Minister at the time of the next UK general election. 

• 60% no 
• 40% yes 

And we asked if changing the Prime Minister between now and a general election would change how people would vote? 

• 72% no 
• 28% yes 

The 28% is comprised of: 

• 38% Reform
• 34% Green
• 28% Labour
• 24% Cons
• 22% LibDem
• 18% SNP 

We also asked if Reform did a deal with the Conservative Party, where the Reform Party candidate stood aside, would you vote for the Conservative party candidate instead? 

• 64% no 
• 36% yes 

 BEST OF THE REST 

With so much distrust and polarising views across the political spectrum, in the media and social media, we asked Brits if they thought the UK was more divided or more united. 

• 82% divided 
• 18% united 

Finally, children under 18 in England will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at NHS gender identity clinics. We asked if people thought this was the right or wrong decision? 

• 72% right decision 
• 28% wrong decision 

ON VOTER INTENTION 

Labour’s lead falls by one to 18 while Sir Keir Starmer’s net approval enjoys a complete turnaround to go from his lowest-ever score of –7 to +1.

ON BREXIT

BREXIT (All Respondents)

This week’s poll was conducted on 14th-15th March 2024, questioned 1,270 people and is weighted to a national representative population.

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