Yahoo News David Attenborough, Marcus Rashford and Greta Thunberg among figures public wants to lead UK
Sir David Attenborough is the figure who most represents the values Britons would like to see reflected across society, a new poll has found.
Nearly three in four of those surveyed (74 per cent) voted for the natural historian and broadcaster, whose beloved nature documentaries have made him a national treasure.
Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist who started the school strikes against climate change, was next with 44 per cent thinking her values should be prioritised as the UK rebuilds itself from the pandemic, the survey to mark Good Money Week found.
The week aims to raise awareness of of ethical finance, including banking, pensions savings and investments.
Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United footballer who has spearheaded campaigns to fight child poverty and food insecurity, came third, with 39 per cent saying they wanted to see more of his ethics across Britain.
Mr Rashford has recently been made an MBE for his services to vulnerable children, and has been leading the call for free school meals to be extended over the school holidays.
The Labour Party’s motion to provide meals over next week’s half-term break was defeated by 322 votes to 261 on Wednesday.
As the theme for Good Money Week 2020 is "clean slate green slate", the poll also asked people to consider the environmental implications of their spending and investments.
More than one in two (51 per cent) of respondents said they thought the government should prioritise reducing carbon emissions, even if it means slower economic growth when we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
It also found that three in ten are more likely to consider the environmental impact of products they buy than they were last year – however, only 5 per cent would do the same when investing their money.
The survey revealed that more than a third (37 per cent) were not financially prepared for the impact of the pandemic, which has left more than 1.5 million people unemployed.
The same proportion said they would now look to start “afresh” with their finances.
Charlene Cranny, Good Money Week campaigns and communications director, said: "This pandemic has been a wake up call for many of us in many different senses, but especially when it comes to our finances.
“That's why the theme of this year's Good Money Week is 'clean slate green slate', encouraging people to consider green options as they start afresh with their finances,” she added.
Ms Cranny encouraged people use the “wake up call” of the coronavirus pandemic to invest sustainably and ethically.
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