A recent study by the thinktank British Future has revealed that many Britons believe inequality is getting worse and that discrimination is becoming more common in the UK. The report, which looked at the views of people from different ethnic backgrounds, found that most ethnic minorities feel that progress against racism has been made in their lifetimes but are now concerned that this progress might be reversing. Sunder Katwala, the thinktank's director, noted that while many people believe there have been positive changes, they are increasingly worried about a reversal of that progress. The study found that nearly half of ethnic minority respondents reported experiencing racial or nationality-based prejudice in the past year. This issue was more pronounced among young people aged 18 to 24, with such prejudice most commonly occurring in public spaces, followed by social media and the workplace. A majority of ethnic minority Britons, 62%, see racial inequality as a serious problem, a view that is also shared by 57% of white Britons. However, white respondents were less likely to believe that structural barriers exist in areas such as education, work, and public services, and more likely to think that minority communities are treated equally or even preferentially. The report, part of a three-year study funded by the Nuffield Foundation, highlighted a growing divide in how people perceive whether minorities receive preferential treatment. Among white respondents, 37% felt that ethnic minorities were treated better than white British people, while 33% disagreed. Among ethnic minorities, 23% agreed and 48% disagreed. The report also found that differences in views based on age and political affiliation were more significant than those based on ethnicity. Both white and ethnic minority respondents identified the divide between the rich and poor as the most important issue affecting the UK. The study was based on two online surveys involving 2,009 white adults and 3,014 ethnic minority adults, conducted between March 30 and April 29. The findings were supported by insights from 12 focus groups. The report noted that Black respondents were generally more positive about progress on racial equality in the UK, while Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage respondents were more pessimistic, possibly due to the 2024 riots. Women, especially ethnic minority women, were found to be more pessimistic than men. The study recommended that the government should focus more on promoting equal pay, addressing disparities in essential services, and ensuring fair media reporting. It also criticized previous governments for not maintaining a consistent focus on racial issues and suggested 10 recommendations, including challenging zero-sum thinking about race equality and supporting grassroots activities.