Young people are far less likely to be proud to be English

Young people are far less likely to be proud to be English than those from older generations, a huge new poll reveals today.

A study of 20,081 people by YouGov found around eight in ten people in England strongly identify as English.

English identity is strongest in the north and far south west of England and grows the further from London someone lives. 

Among those over 65, the poll found 72 per cent are proud of their nationality. But the figure plunges to 45 per cent among those aged 18 to 24.

Among those over 65, the poll found 72 per cent are proud of being English but the figure plunges to 45 per cent among those aged 18 to 24

Half of the people think England’s best days were in the past, while just one in six think the best is yet to come for the country.

The research was carried out for a BBC project called the English Question.

What do people think of England and being English? 

While proud of being English, most over 65s (60%) also think the country was better in the past

Two thirds of the oldest group (67%) still think England is better than most other countries in the world

Slightly more Remain voters (20%) than Leavers (15%) believe England’s best years lie ahead

Young people are the most optimistic, with 28% of 18 to 24-year-olds believing England’s best years are still in the future

55% of people aged 50-64 and 60% of people aged 65 and over say England was better in the past

John Denham, director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Winchester, said: ‘Older people do tend to think things were better in the past but what’s striking is that there isn’t a demographic where the optimists outweigh the pessimists.

‘This pessimism is not as universal in Wales and Scotland, where more people think the future will be better than the past, and where devolution has asked people what sort of nation they wanted to be in the 21st Century.

‘England outside London has never had that.

‘People have a sense that no-one is talking about the people outside the capital.

‘In the EU referendum, the Leave campaign’s slogan ‘take back control’ cut through for that reason.’

Mr Denham said young people tended to be less patriotic in all parts of Britain, with research showing similar trends in Wales and Scotland.

English identity is strongest (darker red) in the north and far south west of England and grows the further from London someone lives. Weaker Englishness is shown in lighter colours 

English identity is strongest (darker red) in the north and far south west of England and grows the further from London someone lives. Weaker Englishness is shown in lighter colours 

He said this was partly because young people are more ‘cosmopolitan’, as well being more racially diverse – a factor making people more likely to identify as British rather than English.

John Denham, director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Winchester, said young people tended to be less patriotic in all parts of Britain

John Denham, director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Winchester, said young people tended to be less patriotic in all parts of Britain

The former Cabinet minister said: ‘It doesn’t mean that Englishness and English pride is disappearing, but we are looking at a future where both Britishness and Englishness will mean a lot to a lot of people.’

The poll found that humour, tradition and good manners are the characteristics most associated with being English. 

Mr Denham said the findings did not not match up with some typical stereotypes of Englishness

He said: ‘So-called yob culture is not such a dominant image of Englishness as some people think.

‘If you see footage of English football fans smashing up a town square, you’re going to think about yob culture at the time, but most people associate Englishness with much more positive values most of the time.

‘The stiff upper lip comes from stories of heroism but it’s also about a cultural respect for qualities that people aspire to – of getting on with things and not making a fuss.’



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