NEW RESEARCH highlights what some British people might really think about diversity and inclusion.

Half of Brits believe discrimination plays a role in the lower earnings of black Britons.

However, around 13% of them think black people earn less because we lack motivation or willpower.

Different voting groups are more or less likely to hold these views.

21% of Conservative and Leave voters believe black people lack motivation and willpower. In contrast, only 4% of Labour voters and 6% of Remain voters share this view.

The research, which was conducted on a nationally representative survey of more than 2,000 people was conducted by the Policy Institute at King’s College London in collaboration with the UK in a changing Europe.

It also reveals what people think about the inequalities that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed.

Though the majority of the public (67%) would find it problematic if income gaps between white people and ethnic minorities grew due to the pandemic, 24% would see it as no problem at all.

Strikingly, Labour voters are almost twice as likely as Conservative voters to see disparities between ethnic groups as “one of the most serious forms of inequality.”

Researchers say their study is one of the most comprehensive examinations of attitudes towards different types of inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It found Brits were more united in seeing geographical inequalities as a serious priority.

Gender equality was also not top of the country’s priority list.

Researchers also found British people were “relatively unforgiving” of those who have lost their jobs during this crisis, believing it is due to their lack of work ethic.

It comes as recent data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that the UK unemployment rate for black people is triple the rate for white people.

Last month, analysis by the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) suggested that almost one in 12 black and minority ethnic workers were unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workers from these groups also reported increased levels of stress and anxiety.

You can read the full report from King’s College here.