Speaking in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025, the Prime Minister talked of the need to change our national security posture, calling for a whole-society effort to enable the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War. He spoke of enemies who are sophisticated in cyber-attacks, sabotage and even assassination, and of the importance of NATO and the threat from president Putin as seen in the war in Ukraine. It seems clear that in the eyes of the government, security is associated with the interference of foreign powers and the threat of armed conflict. But is that what people in the UK actually think?
To find out, Tearfund commissioned a survey to explore the views of a nationally representative sample of the UK population on security. The survey, which was conducted in March 2025, involved 2,205 people and sought to understand how people within the UK define security and what they perceive as key threats to their security. The data is analysed in these reports. One looks at the full sample of 2,205 people, the other looks at a smaller sample of 829 regular churchgoers. Together they offer a snapshot of how a representative sample of the UK population and of regular churchgoers understand security.
This data allows comparisons to be drawn between the views of regular churchgoers and the wider population as a whole. It also allows comparisons to be made with the stated perspectives and priorities of people in the UK and the highly militarised view of security and funding priorities that is currently emphasised by the government.
To find out, Tearfund commissioned a survey to explore the views of a nationally representative sample of the UK population on security. The survey, which was conducted in March 2025, involved 2,205 people and sought to understand how people within the UK define security and what they perceive as key threats to their security. The data is analysed in these reports. One looks at the full sample of 2,205 people, the other looks at a smaller sample of 829 regular churchgoers. Together they offer a snapshot of how a representative sample of the UK population and of regular churchgoers understand security.
This data allows comparisons to be drawn between the views of regular churchgoers and the wider population as a whole. It also allows comparisons to be made with the stated perspectives and priorities of people in the UK and the highly militarised view of security and funding priorities that is currently emphasised by the government.
