Most English people now think of themselves as British first, BSA study finds

[-:Undertaker:-]

Most English people now think of themselves as British first, respected BSA study finds

British Social Attitudes survey which tracks national identity attitudes finds increase in sense of Britishness since Brexit vote

- A quarter identify primarily as English while around half call themselves British
- Immigration and exploitation of welfare system concerns eased since leaving EU
- Fewer people now say that they are English than at any point since the late 1990s
- Two-thirds of all voters are against EU Freedom of Movement

Most people in England now consider themselves British rather than English, a study revealed yesterday.

It found just over a quarter identify primarily as English, compared with around half who call themselves British.


The influential British Social Attitudes survey also revealed that across the country concerns over immigration and exploitation of the welfare system have eased since the decision to quit the EU.

It noted there had been suggestions that the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum ‘was an indication of an increase in the prevalence of English identity’.

But yesterday’s report said: ‘Far from becoming a more popular identity, fewer people now say that they are English than at any point since the late 1990s.’

The latest annual snapshot of the views of more than 3,000 across the UK was taken last autumn.

Asked to say if they are English or British, 28 per cent in England chose English and 53 per cent British.

In the same survey in 1999, numbers were evenly split at 44 per cent for each identity.


The report said: ‘Since 2014 the proportion who say they are English has fallen year on year from 40 per cent to just 28 per cent. Conversely, over the same period the proportion choosing British has increased from 47 per cent to 53 per cent.’

Interesting finding, I always like reading the findings of the BSA surveys.

Out of my friends, a majority say British instead of English first. How about you, what do you say as your first response?

[Zak]

Most English people now think of themselves as British first, respected BSA study finds

British Social Attitudes survey which tracks national identity attitudes finds increase in sense of Britishness since Brexit vote

- A quarter identify primarily as English while around half call themselves British
- Immigration and exploitation of welfare system concerns eased since leaving EU
- Fewer people now say that they are English than at any point since the late 1990s
- Two-thirds of all voters are against EU Freedom of Movement

Interesting finding, I always like reading the findings of the BSA surveys.

Out of my friends, a majority say British instead of English first. How about you, what do you say as your first response?

For a long time I'd identify as British but I've gone the other way now. I don't think my recent trip to Scotland helped. They were unusually hostile towards my partner and I.

[-:Undertaker:-]

@Zak;

What happened?

[Zak]

@Zak;

What happened?

Nothing much. We just stayed in a rough area. Although when we did ask for help, they were either purposely unhelpful or just miserable lol

Also we stayed near a pub, BIG mistake.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Nothing much. We just stayed in a rough area. Although when we did ask for help, they were either purposely unhelpful or just miserable lol

Also we stayed near a pub, BIG mistake.

I wouldn't let you put one experience of it off your national identity.

Ignore Sturgeon's louts. Go and visit the Commonwealth graveyards of France and Belgium where hundreds of thousands of Scotsmen, Welshmen, Ulstermen and Englishmen gave their lives together as Britons for our Empire. That's what makes me British - not Nicola Sturgeon arguing over devolution powers.

My own (blood) family come from southern Ireland, northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. I'm a Briton in every sense of the word.

[Triz]

Honestly, when people ask me my nationality, I've always said British, but I'd happily call myself English, I don't really have a preference nor do I care. Same for when people ask me where I live, I say UK, not England. I think it's just what I was always told to put when filling out things when I was growing up.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Honestly, when people ask me my nationality, I've always said British, but I'd happily call myself English, I don't really have a preference nor do I care. Same for when people ask me where I live, I say UK, not England. I think it's just what I was always told to put when filling out things when I was growing up.

I think of myself as both, but I see myself as English not as my national identity but as more regional. I'm British (nationality) but also English, Lancastrian and Liverpudlian.