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# Still willing to lock down? Brits say Yes, but with limits
- URL: https://www.europeans.today/2025/03/27/still-willing-to-lock-down-brits-say-yes-but-with-limits/
- Published: 2025-03-27T01:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-03-27T15:01:21.000Z
- Description: Five years on, Britons remain broadly supportive of lockdowns in the face of new pandemics — but trust in politicians is crumbling.
- Author: TODAY
- Tags: Opinion Polls, Latest News, Lockdown, COVID-19, United Kingdom, UK Politics, Health, Trust in Politics, COVID-19 & Lockdowns, COVID-19 Pandemic, Pandemic, Pandemic Preparedness, Pandemic Response, Public Health

A new [Savanta poll](https://savanta.com/knowledge-centre/press-and-polls/future-pandemic-poll-politicshome-27-march-2025/?ref=europeans.today) reveals that three-quarters of UK adults would back full lockdown measures if a fresh pandemic struck, with **38%** saying they’d be *more* willing to comply now than in 2020, and **36%** saying they’d comply to the same extent. Only **22%** reported being less likely to support lockdowns today.
  
  
Yet political leanings matter.

Reform UK and Plaid Cymru supporters were the most sceptical — only **25%** and **20%**, respectively, said they’d be more compliant now. In contrast, **50%** of Labour supporters said they’d be more likely to follow restrictions. Similar sentiments were echoed by **44%** of Conservatives and **43%** of Green Party backers.
  
  
Most respondents supported four to sixteen-week lockdowns — but enthusiasm dropped steeply for measures exceeding four months. Support for school closures also remains significant: **42%** for primary and **41%** for secondary schools. However, concern lingers, with **64%** saying previous closures harmed children’s development.

Public trust is strongest in the NHS (**62%**) and schools (**54%**) to handle a future pandemic. However, just **44%** believe the government would respond effectively. Finally, views are split on the [UK COVID Inquiry](https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/?ref=europeans.today) — **44%** trust its findings, while **44%** do not.

Chris Hopkins of Savanta noted that the findings suggest some voters may not have fully complied in 2020\. “There’s still broadly trust in the NHS and schools,” he said, “but trust in government to respond effectively is significantly lower.”

As pandemic memories fade, the challenge lies not just in readiness, but in regaining public trust.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2021/09/end-flat-1.png) 

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### **GOING FURTHER:**

- ###### [Future Pandemic Poll](https://savanta.com/knowledge-centre/press-and-polls/future-pandemic-poll-politicshome-27-march-2025/?ref=europeans.today) | SAVANTA
  
  
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### **Sources:**

##### ▪ **Cover:** Dreamstime/[Vixtar](https://www.dreamstime.com/vixtar%5Finfo?ref=europeans.today).

  
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