Public perceptions on the role of business before and after Covid-19

How the government handles the relationship with businesses now will set the tone for a post Covid-19 future

19 May 2020

By Rosie Fogden

2 minute read

Covid-19 has caused the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression requiring an unprecedented policy response to save businesses and jobs in the short term. But how the government handles the relationship with businesses now will set the tone for a post Covid-19 future. Whilst supporting businesses remains essential for economic growth, the government should ensure that any future grants, loans and bailouts are used to support an inclusive recovery.

Today the government announced they were extending the maximum loan size available to support large businesses from £50m to £200m. Equally important, they also announced that there would be constraints on this and other support for large businesses. Companies receiving support through the large business scheme - known as the CLBILS - will be asked not to pay out dividends on shares and to “exercise restraint on senior pay”. New research by CPP suggests that there is widespread public support for such measures, and that government should go further by stipulating that big businesses in receipt of government support should:

  1. Be prohibited from paying executive bonuses whilst receiving government support and for up to 3 years after
  2. Offer secure job contracts to staff
  3. Use government funding to maintain payrolls

About this report

At the start of the Covid-19 crisis, CPP worked with Populus to carry out focus groups and public opinion polling on the role of businesses in society. The research explores peoples’ views on the role of businesses in delivering inclusive growth alongside early reactions to the UK lock-down. This report discusses the public’s views and their high-level implications for policy, within the context of an ever-evolving economic and public policy landscape. It marks the first report in a programme of work that the CPP is undertaking on the role of businesses in society.

Our opinion polling found:

  • 80% of the public want to see increased obligations on business who are receiving government support during the current health crisis,
  • 61% want businesses to be prohibited from paying executive bonuses for the next three years,
  • 56% said they expect tax-funded grants to be conditional on securing job contracts,
  • 52% want tax-funded grants to support staff payrolls,
  • 70% want to see large companies do more to pay their fair share of tax,
  • 51% also think that support should not be available to those based in tax havens.

Read the full report below:

Notes

Public opinion research was carried out by Populus for the Centre for Progressive Policy. The four focus groups took place in London, Liverpool, Bury and Redcar between 16th and the 19th March 2020. As this research took place during the outbreak of COVID-19, the groups consisted of a mix of face-to-face and online focus groups. There was a good spread of ages, socio-economic background and genders amongst participants. Online polling took place between the 9th and 13th of April 2020. Results are drawn from a regionally and demographically representative sample of 2,174 UK adults.