Research and analysis

Annex A: UK public's concerns, perceptions and understanding of corruption: survey script

Published 8 December 2025

(NEW SCREEN)

The next few questions are about various business practices. In the business world, companies often interact with suppliers, clients, and other businesses to secure deals or contracts. We’re interested in your personal views on what might happen or be considered acceptable or unacceptable in the business world. There are no right or wrong answers, and we value your honest opinion based on your general impressions or experiences.

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QPRIVSECACCEPTABILITY: How often, if at all, do you think the following actions by a UK business might be acceptable?

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-4

1. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to someone from another UK business to secure a business deal

2. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to a UK politician or public sector employee to secure a business deal

3. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to someone from an overseas business to secure a business deal

4. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to an overseas politician or public sector employee to secure a business deal

COLUMNS, FORWARD/REVERSE 1-5

1. Always acceptable

2. Often acceptable

3. Sometimes acceptable

4. Rarely acceptable

5. Never acceptable

6. Don’t know

7. Prefer not to say

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QPRIVSECOFTEN: And generally, how often, if at all, do you think UK businesses engage in the following actions?

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-4

1. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to someone from another UK business to secure a business deal

2. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to a UK politician or public sector employee to secure a business deal

3. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to someone from an overseas business to secure a business deal

4. Giving a gift, favour, or extra money other than the official fee to an overseas politician or public sector employee to secure a business deal

COLUMNS, FORWARD/REVERSE 1-5

1. Very often

2. Fairly often

3. Occasionally

4. Rarely

5. Never

6. Don’t know

7. Prefer not to say

(NEW SCREEN)

The next few questions are about your perceptions of different people’s behaviour in the public sector. We’re interested in your general impressions.

SCRIPTING: ROTATE ORDER OF PUBOFTEN AND POLITOFTEN

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QPUBOFFOFTEN: How often, if at all, do you think the following practices occur amongst public officials in the UK?

By “public officials”, we mean individuals employed in public sector roles in the UK who administer public services. For example, civil servants and local government employees. This does not include politicians.

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-6

1. Offering jobs or promotions based on personal connections rather than merit

2. Making official decisions or awarding contracts based on personal connections rather than merit

3. Using public money or resources for personal or family benefit

4. Accepting gifts, favours or extra money to influence official decisions or awarding of contracts

5. Altering or falsifying official records or financial accounts

6. Interfering with or manipulating election processes

COLUMNS, FORWARD/REVERSE 1-5

1. Very often

2. Fairly often

3. Occasionally

4. Rarely

5. Never

6. Don’t know

7. Prefer not to say

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QPOLITOFTEN: And how often, if at all, do think the following practices occur amongst politicians in the UK?

By “politicians”, we mean elected or appointed representatives such as government ministers, members of Parliament (MPs), local councillors and members of the House of Lords.

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-6

1. Offering jobs or promotions based on personal connections rather than merit

2. Making official decisions or awarding contracts based on personal connections rather than merit

3. Using public money or resources for personal or family benefit

4. Accepting gifts, favours or extra money to influence official decisions or awarding of contracts

5. Altering or falsifying official records or financial accounts

6. Interfering with or manipulating election processes

COLUMNS, FORWARD/REVERSE 1-5

1. Very often

2. Fairly often

3. Occasionally

4. Rarely

5. Never

6. Don’t know

7. Prefer not to say

(NEW SCREEN)

The next questions are about your understanding, perception, and awareness of corruption across society. You will not be assessed or judged on your answers - if you are unsure, please answer to the best of your knowledge.

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QCORRUPTAWARE: How much, if at all, do you know about corruption? Please select one option

SINGLE CODE, FORWARD/REVERSE 1-5

1. A great deal

2. A fair amount

3. Just a little

4. Heard of, know nothing about

5. Never heard of

6. Don’t know

7. Prefer not to say

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QCORRUPTDEF: To the best of your knowledge, which, if any, of the following do you think would count as corruption?

Please tick all that you would consider to be corruption.

MULTICODE, RANDOMISE 1-12

1. A politician receiving money from a business to advocate for their commercial interests in parliament

2. A police officer accepting money to overlook a crime X

3. A local government employee accepting a gift from a business bidding for a public service contract X

4. A referee accepting a gift to help one team win by making unfair decisions during a football match X

5. A charity employee using proceeds from charitable fundraising for personal expenditure X

6. A business owner giving a gift to someone from another UK company to secure a business deal X

7. A civil servant using taxpayer money to travel first class to a work meeting

8. A private contractor delivering a substandard housing repairs service for a local council X

9. A business owner asking for payment in cash to avoid paying taxes X

10. A business owner accepting investment from known criminals X

11. An MP declaring receipt of a large speaking engagement fee on the register of financial interests X

12. A police officer making a false insurance claim for an injury at work which didn’t happen X

13. None of these [EXCLUSIVE]

14. Don’t know [EXCLUSIVE]

15. Prefer not to say [EXCLUSIVE]

(NEW SCREEN)

Corruption is defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private benefit that usually breaches laws, regulations, standards of integrity and/or standards of professional behaviour. This can take many forms, including bribery, inappropriate conflicts of interest and people being unfairly favoured in recruitment.

In the following question, we’ll ask about your views on potential corruption among various groups of public sector employees and politicians. Your honest opinions are valuable, and there are no right or wrong answers. If you’re unsure about any group, please give your best estimate based on your general impressions.

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QCORRUPTCONCERN: How concerned, if at all, are you about the possibility of corruption amongst each of the following?

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-11

1. Members of Parliament

2. Members of the Lords

3. Local councillors

4. Civil servants

5. Police officers

6. Prison officers

7. Judges

8. Members of the Armed Forces

9. Local government employees

10. Border Force officers

11. UK government ministers

COLUMNS, REVERSE SCALE 1-4

1. Very concerned

2. Fairly concerned

3. Not very concerned

4. Not at all concerned

5. Don’t know

6. Prefer not to say

(NEW SCREEN)

Various international actors can influence different aspects of life in the UK. These influences can come from individuals, organisations, or governments from other countries.

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

Q KLEPTOCRATS: How concerned, if at all, are you about corrupt actors from abroad impacting the following in the UK?

By ‘corrupt actors from abroad’, we mean individuals or groups who may have gained wealth or power unethically in their own countries.

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-9

1. UK political system

2. UK foreign policy

3. UK educational institutions (e.g., universities, schools)

4. UK housing market

5. UK infrastructure projects

6. UK cultural institutions (e.g., museums, theatres)

7. UK judicial system 

8. UK national security

9. UK sports organisations and events

COLUMNS, REVERSE SCALE 1-4

1. Very concerned

2. Fairly concerned

3. Not very concerned

4. Not at all concerned

5. Don’t know

6. Prefer not to say

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

Q UKINVOLVEMENT: How concerned are you, if at all, about the possibility of the following?

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-3

1. UK businesses (e.g., PR firms) assisting in improving the credibility or reputation of corrupt actors from abroad

2. UK professional services (e.g., lawyers, accountants) using financial structures like shell companies or trusts to conceal or transfer wealth on behalf of corrupt actors from abroad

3. UK lawyers exploiting aspects of the UK legal system (e.g., libel laws) to protect or advance the interests of corrupt actors from abroad

COLUMNS, REVERSE SCALE 1-4

1. Very concerned

2. Fairly concerned

3. Not very concerned

4. Not at all concerned

5. Don’t know

6. Prefer not to say

(NEW SCREEN)

The next questions are about preventing corruption.

As a reminder, corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private benefit that usually breaches laws, regulations, standards of integrity and/or standards of professional behaviour.

Bribery is a form of corruption, and involves the exchange of gifts, favours, or extra money, other than the official fee, to secure a business deal, or acquire a service.

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

CORRUPTRESPONSBUS: How responsible, if at all, do you think each of the following should be for ensuring bribery does not occur amongst UK businesses?

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-5

1. UK government (e.g., government ministers, civil servants)

2. UK businesses themselves

3. Relevant international organisations (e.g., United Nations)

4. Relevant regulatory bodies (e.g., Financial Conduct Authority, Solicitors Regulation Authority)

5. Law enforcement (e.g., police)

COLUMNS, REVERSE SCALE 1-10

1. 0 = Not at all responsible

2. 1

3. 2

4. 3

5. 4

6. 5

7. 6

8. 7

9. 8

10. 9

11. 10 = Fully responsible

12. Don’t know

13. Prefer not to say

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QMEASURES: The UK government can employ different measures to reduce the risk of corruption and increase transparency within government.

How confident are you, if at all, that the UK government effectively implements the following measures?

ROWS, SINGLE CODE PER ROW, RANDOMISE 1-6

1. Maintaining high ethical standards in government

2. Being transparent about public appointments e.g. public body board members

3. Enforcing rules on the business activities and employment of ministers and civil servants after they leave office

4. Regulating the appointment and removal of peers in the House of Lords

5. Being transparent about meetings with lobbyists and donors

6. Thoroughly checking and enforcing rules on political donations

COLUMNS, SINGLE CODE, REVERSE SCALE 1-4

1. Very confident

2. Fairly confident

3. Not very confident

4. Not at all confident

5. Don’t know

6. Prefer not to say

BASE: ALL ADULTS AGED 16+

FILTER: ASK ALL

QEMPLOY: Which of the following best describes your current employment status? Please select one option

SINGLE CODE

1. Working in the public sector (e.g. government, NHS, education, local authority)

2. Working in the private sector (e.g. for-profit-businesses, corporations)

3. Working in the charity or non-profit sector

4. Self-employed

5. Not currently employed

6. Retired

7. Other

8. Prefer not to say