Brits are sick of lockdowns and willing to break rules to see loved ones, focus group finds

Brits are sick of lockdowns and are willing to break coronavirus rules to see their friends and family, it has been reported.

Despite traditional opinion polls finding that people are generally complying with the restrictions where they live, focus groups have found Brits are tired of the measures being imposed.

A focus group made up of both Tory and Labour supporters in London, Birmingham and Liverpool, found that voters have lost faith in lockdowns, the Daily Mail reports.

Researchers also found people are not willing to obey the rules as they did during the first coronavirus wave.

Researchers said many people are worried about the impact the restrictions will have on their livelihoods, but that they believe the second Covid wave will be less dangerous than the first one.

Some people also said they would not get a coronavirus vaccine due to concerns about its potential effects.

And according to the study, many Brits are less likely to adhere to the rules due to anger over rule breakers such as Prime Minister’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

James Johnson of JL Partners, who acted as moderator in the focus group, said he had similar findings in previous studies.

He said the intimate atmosphere of focus groups allows people to share their true feelings.

Mr Johnson said the public is largely confused by the restrictions imposed to prevent further spread of Covid-19.

In his most recent focus group, Liverpool pensioner Brian complained: “People with cancer, heart conditions, strokes, they’re all dying.

“We are saving people with coronavirus but the rest of the population is dying from diseases we can control.”

Mr Johnson also added voters are “fatigued” by the restrictions and are no longer willing to be obedient.

Steph, a charity worker, branded Mr Cummings “disgusting” for breaking Covid rules.

She added: “We have to get back to normality.”

Since October 12, England has been operating under a three-tier system of local restrictions which divides areas into different categories, labelled as medium, also known as Tier 1, high, also known as Tier 2, or very high risk, which is referred to as Tier 3.

Wales began a two-week national “firebreak” at 6pm on Friday evening with a return to the “stay at home” message of the initial lockdown in March.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has set out a five-tier series of controls which will come into force on November 2 if they are approved next week by the Holyrood Parliament.

In England, ministers have said they hope the latest measures will suppress the virus sufficiently to enable families to spend Christmas together.

However, some scientists advising the Government remain highly sceptical, warning much tighter controls will be needed to get the situation under control and prevent many more deaths.

The latest figures suggest the number of new daily cases across England doubled in a fortnight – although scientists said the rate of spread of the virus may be slowing.

The UK has seen 830,998 infections and 44,571 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic hit the country.