Public Attitudes to R&D and the Government’s Missions

This briefing summarises attitudes to the UK Government’s five missions, as set out in the 2024 Labour Party manifesto. It is based on evidence from a nationally representative survey of 3,258 UK adults in September 2024 and two focus groups in December 2024. It includes statistics and the opinions of focus group participants, and identifies five key points:

All the missions are seen as high priorities, with the NHS being a top priority
Few perceive the missions as achievable in the near-term
Most think R&D has an essential or important role in the missions
The public support R&D being used as a tool to achieve the missions
Advocates must do more to show how R&D investment helps the missions

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