Britons have become so mean that many of us think poor people don’t deserve leisure time

‘What does it mean to have a good life? Is a modern economy working if large swathes of the population can’t afford occasional leisure?’ Holidaymakers in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Photograph: John Keeble/Getty Images

Should someone off work with Parkinson’s be allowed a television? Does a supermarket assistant deserve a hobby? YouGov put a range of expenses to the public to ask at what income level they believed each should be attainable. The results are eye-opening. The survey shows that 76% of Britons believe that everyone should be able to afford their utility bills, while 74% think they should have the means to eat a balanced diet – in effect, meaning that around a quarter of the public believe that people on out-of-work benefits shouldn’t be able to have electricity or a full complement of vitamins.

Things get particularly interesting when respondents were asked about “non-essentials”. Only 60% think seasonal celebrations should be attainable for all, while 55% think everyone should be able to afford a television.