Two-thirds of British public think government has failed to treat people equally during pandemic, poll finds

Exclusive: People want the government to focus on ‘support rather than punishment’ in response to crisis, May Bulman finds

Tens of thousands of people have had to rely on food banks for the first time during the pandemic (Getty Images)

Two-thirds of the British public believe the government has failed to treat people equally and fairly during the pandemic, new research shows.

A year on from the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, and with restrictions continuing to have a considerable effect on people’s lives, ministers are being urged to focus on “support rather than punishment” in their response to the crisis.

New polling, commissioned by human rights group Liberty, indicates that 83 per cent of people are concerned about the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable groups, with only a third (34 percent) saying the government has treated everyone equally and fairly during the past year.