Study reveals people in Devon and Cornwall are royalist, atheist - and anti-benefits
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
In 30 years, the South West has shifted from a Conservative bible-belt with sympathy for the unemployed to left-minded atheism with a belief that it is possible to find a job if you really want to, according to a new study.
Less than a third of people in the region identify themselves as Tories, down from almost half under Margaret Thatcher in 1986, according to the study by NatCen Social Research.
But while more people now believe unemployment benefits are too high, according to the 30th Social Attitudes Report, this has tempered in recent years. While as few as 12% felt unemployment benefits were too low in 2011, one in five said they do so now.
According to Britain's leading centre for social research, the study proves that, after a long-term decline in sympathy, austerity has begun to soften the public mood.
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/royalist-atheist-ndash-anti-benefits/story-19773516-detail/story.html#axzz2eUTszmQ8