The problem is the rules are impractical so people will break them. I think that UK culture is toxic as an effect of excess competition and this will just worsen it. There will be even less civility than there was. One of the main strategies in the UK is to claim space on grounds of health and safety issues and all this just makes more strategies available to do this. I have already been reported for not wearing a mask on a ninety second journey through a building on the grounds that I might "breath on someone" so all the virus regulations do is allow people to indulge their proclivities for creating distances and excluding people. It is natural to the English and this will just fit into their sensibility.

You are absolutely not alone in feeling that this issue is, for some, more divisive than Brexit. All of my family and I were remainers but on this issue there are very strong sceptics among us. We have been dealing with this since April.
As you point out, it is often the ones who promote lockdowns the strongest who are most happy to break the rules. We had my cousin and family staying with us in Tier 4 over xmas, and they had come from Tier 2 100 miles away. They got pissed off that I met up OUTSIDE with lockdown sceptics because it meant they felt they could not visit the flat of the in-law obese elderly aunt, also in Tier 4, on the same trip.
Someone has pointed out that the rules are so impractical. this is a good point, and one my family raised too. Well that is exactly the reason why lockdowns are so dangerous. You have that erosion in civility and responsibility because they are actually politically dysfunctional and impractical which leads to the punishment of the most civil.

I have found anyway that other people are not persuaded by facts and statistics. If they are 'on the same team' they get offended rather than compelled, by statistics undermining their position. Look at the Paul Embery debate on twitter. He is being excommunicated by the Left for making a factual reference with no comment.
During xmas and other gatherings we are now more careful to limit our conversations to being sympathetic with each other. My family are more able to limit arguments before they get out of hand. And also from my side I realise it's pointless and boring to drone on about the same bullocks at these special occasions. 😀 So apart from showing solidarity I no longer bother to engage with family over the issue.

Yes, happening in my family but not so bad. Just some find it impossible to think the BBC and the government may not be making rational decisions.

Just after Christmas I had a big argument with my mum and sister over lockdown. I am a sceptic and they believe we should all follow the rules. It got very heated and ended when my sister abruptly ended the WhatsApp call. I am interested to find out if this is now a common thing in the same way as Brexit disagreements were and are.
In addition, I get very annoyed at the hypocrisy of those who support lockdown but still perform small violations when it suits them. This also formed part of the argument as they were somewhat guilty of this and I assume that it struck a nerve.