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Britons liked the togetherness that developed and want to keep hold of it, found a poll for /Together, which helped arrange the thank-you clap to mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS. Forty-five percent of those quizzed agreed the UK has never felt so divided, compared with 60 per cent at the start of the crisis. Just six in 10 agreed we tend to dwell on differences rather than what we have in common – down from seven in 10 in March.

And 75 percent agreed there is no substitute for interacting with people face-to-face as millions were affected by self-isolation.

But six in 10 thought people have lost the ability to discuss politics without getting angry and abusive.

Three-quarters believe people from different backgrounds get on well in their community – but that drops to 61 percent at a national level.

The findings were revealed in a report by think-tank British Future.

The Rt Rev Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds, who is the chairman of /Together’s board of trustees, said: “We are entering a period of deep economic uncertainty, one that will heighten existing inequalities and strain our society further still.

“We must start to disagree better: recognising and respecting our differences while remembering our common humanity and citizenship, with all the mutual obligations these demand of us.

“We want to find out how we keep hold of the new community spirit built up during lockdown and bridge the angry divisions of the past.”

Jill Rutter, of British Future, added: “There’s a risk that past divides are re-emerging. The shared experience of lockdown made many people feel more connected to their neighbours and local community. Now that sense of togetherness is starting to fray.

“The good news is that people would rather we kept hold of it .”

The findings have prompted a public consultation to seek ways of avoiding new divisions.

People can still take part in the poll by visiting together.org.uk/survey.

COMMENT by BEAR GRYLLS

I have been so proud of the way Scouts have been working in our communities in the past few months – working to help others and showing that by us all coming together everybody benefits.

It’s what we do in Scouts, in good times as well as bad.

And it has been fantastic to see how many people, young and not so young, have been doing the same.

We’ve all been finding new ways to come together and to do our best to make sure nobody is left isolated or alone.

Scouts have been teaming up with the British Red Cross in Care for Care Homes, carrying out over 10,000 acts of kindness.

Initiatives like this have been vital because community makes us and every single person matter.

The question now is how we bottle that amazing spirit of togetherness so it can be a something that keeps us going into the future, with all the uncertainties we face.

I’m asking everyone, including all those involved in Scouts, to have their say in this important survey.

We’ll be there playing our part, but what a great idea to ask as many people as possible what they think are the best ways we can all continue to support each other.

So please, take a few minutes to take part in the survey.

The crisis has helped show the best of all of us.

Now is the time to pledge to keep it up.

We have come together, now let’s stick together.

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