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The Independent
11-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Half of people fear timing of assisted dying law alongside benefits cuts, poll shows
The public is deeply concerned about a 'perfect storm' of assisted dying and benefit cuts, a new poll suggests. MPs will vote again later this week on plans to legalise assisted dying at the same time as ministers push ahead with plans to slash £5bn from the welfare bill. Half, 51 per cent, of those polled agreed they 'would be worried about the timing' of such a law at the same time as benefit cuts. While most, 71 per cent, of the more than 2,000 adults polled supported the principle for terminally ill adults in pain, nearly six in 10 believed that no law can safeguard against rogue medics abusing the change for their 'own gratification'. The survey was carried out by Whitestone Insight, a British Polling Council member, for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). Michael Robinson, executive director of SPUC said: 'This polling clearly shows the public has a much better understanding of the problems with changing the law than some proponents of the bill believe. Indeed, the public know that legalising assisted dying at the same time as slashing benefits, will create a perfect storm, putting pressure of vulnerable and disabled people to end their lives prematurely – and they don't like it.' Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Assisted Dying Bill, defended the Bill on Sunday, insisting it was "about human beings". Asked by Times Radio about an impact statement that suggested the proposal could save the NHS millions of pounds, she said: 'I think if we distil this issue down to pounds and pence, we're kind of missing the point. This is about human beings. And whilst it's very important that the impact assessment is done, and we look into the practical implications of changing the law, what really matters is the human beings at the centre of it.' She added: 'We need to be really clear what the problem is that we're trying to fix. And it's about giving dying people autonomy, dignity and control in their final few weeks and months.' Prime minsiter Sir Keir Starmer will miss this week's debate on assisted dying, in a move that some have seen as the PM cooling on the proposals. MPs are expected to vote on a number of amendments to the Bill on Friday.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Diversity is our strength' rings hollower by the day
A new survey of British Muslims has provided much food for thought on how to view the matters of demography, culture and identity in modern Britain. The Whitestone Insight polling conducted on behalf of the Institute on the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) found that seven in 10 British Muslim respondents identified with their religious identity first and foremost – with around a quarter identifying most strongly with their British/English national identity. This is not necessarily a surprise, especially when one considers the centrality of Islam to the lives of many British Muslims, including the concept of the Ummah (global Islamic community). But the fact that younger British Muslims are more likely to identify as 'Muslim first' than their elders – peaking at 85 per cent for 18-to-24-year-olds – burns a hole in the theory that 'minority identities' subside over the generations. It appears the opposite is taking place regarding British Muslims. The reality is that many British Muslims – especially those born in the UK – have integrated in terms of education and employment. They will tend to have higher rates of 'social mixing' outside their own ethnic and religious group, especially when compared to foreign-born parents or grandparents. Is it any wonder that some don't want to integrate? Perhaps the most significant development in modern Britain is that many law-abiding Muslim social conservatives – including those who are born on these islands, well-educated and making headway in the labour market – have reached the view that 'integrating' into mainstream Britain is not desirable and a certain degree of 'insulation' is preferable in the shape of conventional Islamic morality. Integration in modern Britain is a double-edged sword. As Britain's Muslim population has become more integrated, it has also been more exposed to the reality that they live in a society characterised by high levels of family breakdown, intergenerational disconnection and a fundamental loss of community spirit – against a backdrop of fast-paced secularisation and rampant material individualism. The growing disregard of the sanctity of life – whether it is abortion or assisted dying – would alienate the most liberal of Muslims. Previous research by the IIFL found that three in five British Muslims believe that most Brits prioritise their individual interests over their own family and local community – perhaps they have a point? And many young, politically-engaged, British Muslims – who will have higher expectations of their democracy when compared to foreign-born elders who are naturally grateful after leaving conflict-affected, unstable and impoverished places of origin – will be left disillusioned by the perceived lack of solidarity with Palestine among the political establishment. Some may even consider it to be a betrayal, which will only raise the salience of their religious identity. As a patriotic British Muslim of Bangladeshi origin, none of this fills me with pleasure. The portrait of modern Britain is becoming an increasingly complicated one – 'diversity is our strength' rings hollower by the day. And it seems like none of our political leaders has the faintest idea on how to navigate the choppy waters we find ourselves in. Dr Rakib Ehsan is the author of Beyond Grievance Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
‘Diversity is our strength' rings hollower by the day
A new survey of British Muslims has provided much food for thought on how to view the matters of demography, culture and identity in modern Britain. The Whitestone Insight polling conducted on behalf of the Institute on the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) found that seven in 10 British Muslim respondents identified with their religious identity first and foremost – with around a quarter identifying most strongly with their British/English national identity. This is not necessarily a surprise, especially when one considers the centrality of Islam to the lives of many British Muslims, including the concept of the Ummah (global Islamic community). But the fact that younger British Muslims are more likely to identify as 'Muslim first' than their elders – peaking at 85 per cent for 18-to-24-year-olds – burns a hole in the theory that 'minority identities' subside over the generations. It appears the opposite is taking place regarding British Muslims. The reality is that many British Muslims – especially those born in the UK – have integrated in terms of education and employment. They will tend to have higher rates of 'social mixing' outside their own ethnic and religious group, especially when compared to foreign-born parents or grandparents. Is it any wonder that some don't want to integrate? Perhaps the most significant development in modern Britain is that many law-abiding Muslim social conservatives – including those who are born on these islands, well-educated and making headway in the labour market – have reached the view that 'integrating' into mainstream Britain is not desirable and a certain degree of 'insulation' is preferable in the shape of conventional Islamic morality. Integration in modern Britain is a double-edged sword. As Britain's Muslim population has become more integrated, it has also been more exposed to the reality that they live in a society characterised by high levels of family breakdown, intergenerational disconnection and a fundamental loss of community spirit – against a backdrop of fast-paced secularisation and rampant material individualism. The growing disregard of the sanctity of life – whether it is abortion or assisted dying – would alienate the most liberal of Muslims. Previous research by the IIFL found that three in five British Muslims believe that most Brits prioritise their individual interests over their own family and local community – perhaps they have a point? And many young, politically-engaged, British Muslims – who will have higher expectations of their democracy when compared to foreign-born elders who are naturally grateful after leaving conflict-affected, unstable and impoverished places of origin – will be left disillusioned by the perceived lack of solidarity with Palestine among the political establishment. Some may even consider it to be a betrayal, which will only raise the salience of their religious identity. As a patriotic British Muslim of Bangladeshi origin, none of this fills me with pleasure. The portrait of modern Britain is becoming an increasingly complicated one – 'diversity is our strength' rings hollower by the day. And it seems like none of our political leaders has the faintest idea on how to navigate the choppy waters we find ourselves in.
Telegraph
04-03-2025
- Telegraph
‘Toxic masculinity' on rise with most young women scared of men their age
Most young women are scared of men their age, according to a poll which reveals the impact of so-called 'toxic masculinity' on the sexes. Nearly two-thirds of women aged 18 to 24 are living in fear of their male peers, research by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found. With International Women's Day on Saturday, a Whitestone Insight survey commissioned by the think tank found that 62 per cent of young women believe most young men are 'pretty frightening'. More than two-fifths of young men (41 per cent) agree with their female counterparts. The finding features in Lost Boys, a study published by the CSJ that details the plight of Britain's boys and young men. Not only are males now falling behind females in education and the workplace, but they are also increasingly viewed with suspicion by women. 'Angry men is a disaster' The report warns: 'A generation of unhappy and angry men is a disaster for both the sexes.' So-called 'toxic masculinity' has been fuelled by misogynists such as Andrew Tate and follows a surge in violence against women and girls (VAWG), with cases of stalking, harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence up 37 per cent over the past five years. Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to halve VAWG in a decade as part of the Government's response to the 2021 murders of Sabina Nessa, 28, and Sarah Everard, 33. The research suggests that an 'epidemic of family breakdown' has meant 'millions of boys are deprived of any positive model of manhood', with both men and women agreeing that 'fatherlessness' is a principal cause of behavioural problems. Across the country, 2.5 million children have no father figure at home, representing almost one in five of all dependent children. Not only are men far more likely to carry out violent offences and have a much higher chance of belonging to gangs and being criminally exploited if they don't have a male role model at home, they are also more prone to attack their mothers. The report identifies that Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA) abuse is prevalent in almost 20 per cent of single parent homes. Research from the London Violence Reduction Unit shows that 81 per cent of perpetrators are male. Women make up the majority of victims (69 per cent) because of the predominance of single mothers. CAPVA often peaks during adolescence, with two-thirds of incidents attributed to young men aged 19 to 25, a third to those aged 15 to 18, and one per cent from those aged 12 to 14. The report adds: 'If we are going to reverse the alarming phenomenon of CAPVA, we must deal with the complex interconnecting issues of family breakdown, behavioural difficulties and, in many cases, a sub-culture of male youth violence. Before becoming perpetrators, these boys were often young victims. 'This is another reason why finding the Lost Boys is so key: it is for the mothers, sisters and grandmothers, too.' The study also expressed concern at the diminishment of traditional masculinity in the media and society. Courage no longer valued More than four in 10 of the public, 43 per cent, say that traditional masculine values such as courage, resilience and competitiveness are not valued by society. Half of young men believe that the media are too negative, with men being 'too often' shown as 'a bit pathetic'. Pornography is another reason for the damage done to the relationship between the sexes. A clear majority (60 per cent) believe that porn is undermining relationships. This increases to two-thirds when asking young people. Andy Cook, chief executive of the Centre for Social Justice, said: 'We have been so careless in our downgrading of the traditional masculine virtues that we are in danger of leaving a whole generation behind. 'Restoring the hope that has been lost among boys and young men is not to undermine girls and young women, rather it will restore trust and overcome this terrible sense of fear that is so corrosive.'
