British attempts at the subjunctive

[Bridget]

Do you find this comment ambiguous in meaning?

"The minister said it was important to listen to the people."

[Pete]

Do you find this comment ambiguous in meaning?

"The minister said it was important to listen to the people."
I see one meaning as a whole, but it would take context to know which of the following the minister intended to contrast:
- It is unimportant to listen to the people.
- It is important to listen to (for example) newspaper editorials.

(Or is there some other possible meaning that I didn't catch?)

[Pete]

Would would you use?

Customers should hold onto their savings during this crisis.
Customers should hold on to their savings during this crisis.
I'd personally say "… hold onto …".

The dictionary of phrasal verbs at EnglishPage.com shows only the "hold on to" form; the one at Dictionary.Cambridge.org shows both forms as acceptable.

[Bridget]

I see one meaning as a whole, but it would take context to know which of the following the minister intended to contrast:
- It is unimportant to listen to the people.
- It is important to listen to (for example) newspaper editorials.

(Or is there some other possible meaning that I didn't catch?)

The ambiguity I came across was : Are they saying that they do listen to the people or that they should listen?

[Bridget]

I'd personally say "… hold onto …".

The dictionary of phrasal verbs at EnglishPage.com shows only the "hold on to" form; the one at Dictionary.Cambridge.org shows both forms as acceptable.

But one is an adverb an the other a preposition, so is there a difference in meaning?