English Identity

British Future’s (ICM) poll findings on Englishness,

October 2013

Almost twice as many people knew when US Independence day is than St George’s Day

19%

34%

40%

42%

71%

85%

81%

66%

60%

68%

29%

15%

Burns' Night

St David's Day

St George's Day

St Patrick's day

Independence Day

Bonfire Night

Can you name the day and month of the following national days?Incorrect

Correct

Two-thirds of people thought that St Patrick’s Day was more widely celebrated than St George’s Day

It feels like St Patrick's Day is more

celebrated than St George's Day

67%

It feels like St George's Day is

celebrated more than St Patrick's Day

7%

It feels like the two are celebrated about the

same12%

Don't know14%

Thinking specifically about St Patrick’s Day and St George’s Day, which if either, do you feel is more widely celebrated in Britain today?

Three-quarters of people polled felt we should celebrate St George’s Day at least as much as St Patricks Day

22%

2%

30%

46%

Don't know

We should celebrate St george's Day less than St Patricks' Day

We should celebrate St George's Day as much as we celebrate St Patrick's Day

We should celebrate St George's Day more than St Patrick's Day

Should people in England celebrate St George's Day as much as we celebrate St Patrick's Day?

The biggest reason cited for why we do not celebrate St George’s day is that it is not a bank holiday

41%

35%33%

31%29%

26%

3%6%

It's not a bank holiday

Goverment and politicians don't

focus on it

Nobody seems to organise

aything, but I think people

would like it if they did

Worried about offending minorities

People just don't care, which is fine

Not taught in schools

Too embarrassed Other

Are there any reasons why St George's Day isn't celebrated more than it currently is? Please select up to three.

61% of people would like to see the St George’s flag flown more often than it currently is

More, 61%

As much as it currently is, 18%

Slightly less than it is currently, 1%

Not flown at all, 4%

Don't know, 15%

In England should the St George's flag be flown ...?

The Queen was by far the most popular spokesperson for England

57% 27% 23% 20% 18% 13% 12% 12% 11% 5% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 10%

Which of the following people connect with you as a spokesperson for England today? Please select up to three.

While Boris Johnson was the most convincing politician but in a much tighter race

39% 32% 24% 18% 14% 7% 5% 4% 38%

Boris Johnson David Cameron Nigel Farage Ed Miliband Nick Clegg Nick Griffin Tommy Robinson

Caroline Lucas None of them

Which, if any, of the following politicians speaks convincingly for England today? (Respondents were allowed to select up to 3 choices)

And Del Boy was the comedy character people most associated Englishness with

37% 29% 25% 21% 18% 18% 14% 13% 9% 7% 13%

Del Trotter Basil Fawlty Hyacinth Bucket

Mr Bean Alf Garnett Vicar of Dibley

Miranda Tony Hancock

Vicky Pollard

David Brent None of these

Which of the following comedy characters best represents Englishness? Please select up to three

Most of us now think that the English “Stiff upper lip” is a thing of the past but we still love talking about the weather

14%

12%

14%

16%

11%

8%

11%

68%

51%

43%

24%

20%

12%

10%

18%

37%

43%

61%

69%

79%

79%

Superior and snobbish

Stiff upper lip

Keeping up appearances

Say sorry unnecessarily

Happy to queue

Talk about the weather

Sense of humour

Which characteristics sum up the English and which do you think are outdated stereotypes?

Don't know Outdated stereotype Fair generalisation

People on the whole agree that if we paid more attention to Englishness it would help to unite communities

Agree, 54%

Neither agree or disagree, 28%

Disagree, 14%

Don't know, 5%

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'Paying more attention to Englishness will help to unitecommunities and bring us all together'?

The Majority of people see themselves as both English and British, however more people say they are English

first rather than British first

20%

19%

37%

9%

8%

6%

English Not British

More English than British

Equally English and British

More British than English

British not English

Don't Know

Which, if anything, describes the way you think of yourself?