English Identity, British Future and ICM polling

1. English Identity
British Future’s (ICM) poll findings on
Englishness,
October 2013

2. Almost twice as many people knew when US
Independence day is than St George’s Day
Can you name the day and month of the following national days?
Bonfire Night
15%
85%
29%
Independence Day
71%
68%
St Patrick's day
42%
60%
St George's Day
40%
66%
St David's Day
Burns' Night
34%
81%
19%
Incorrect
Correct

3. Two-thirds of people thought that St Patrick’s Day was more
widely celebrated than St George’s Day
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?
It feels like the two are
celebrated about the
same
12%
Don't know
14%
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%

4. Three-quarters of people polled felt we should celebrate St
George’s Day at least as much as St Patricks Day
Should people in England 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
46%
We should celebrate St George's Day as
much as we celebrate St Patrick's Day
We should celebrate St george's Day less
than St Patricks' Day
Don't know
30%
2%
22%

5. The biggest reason cited for why we do not celebrate St
George’s day is that it is not a bank holiday
41%
Are there any reasons why St George's Day isn't celebrated
more than it currently is? Please select up to three.
35%
33%
31%
29%
26%
3%
It's not a bank
holiday
Goverment and Nobody seems to Worried about People just don't Not taught in
politicians don't
organise
offending
care, which is fine
schools
focus on it
aything, but I
minorities
think people
would like it if
they did
Too embarrassed
6%
Other

6. 61% of people would like to see the St George’s flag flown more
often than it currently is
In England should the St George's flag
be flown ...?
Not flown at all, 4%
Don't know, 15%
Slightly less than it is
currently, 1%
More, 61%
As much as it currently
is, 18%

7. The Queen was by far the most popular spokesperson for England
Which of the following people connect with you as a spokesperson for
England today? Please select up to three.
57%
27%
23%
20%
18%
13%
12%
12%
11%
5%
3%
2%
2%
2%
1%
10%

8. While Boris Johnson was the most convincing politician but in a
much tighter race
Which, if any, of the following politicians speaks
convincingly for England today? (Respondents were
allowed to select up to 3 choices)
39%
32%
24%
Boris Johnson David Cameron Nigel Farage
18%
14%
7%
5%
Ed Miliband
Nick Clegg
Nick Griffin
Tommy
Robinson
4%
38%
Caroline Lucas None of them

9. And Del Boy was the comedy character people most
associated Englishness with
Which of the following comedy characters best represents
Englishness? Please select up to three
37%
29%
25%
Del Trotter Basil Fawlty Hyacinth
Bucket
21%
18%
18%
14%
13%
9%
7%
13%
Mr Bean
Alf Garnett
Vicar of
Dibley
Miranda
Tony
Hancock
Vicky
Pollard
David Brent
None of
these

10. 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
Which characteristics sum up the English and which do you think are outdated stereotypes?
Don't know
Sense of humour
Talk about the weather
Happy to queue
Say sorry unnecessarily
Keeping up appearances
Stiff upper lip
Superior and snobbish
11%
8%
10%
16%
12%
14%
Fair generalisation
79%
12%
11%
14%
Outdated stereotype
79%
20%
69%
24%
61%
43%
43%
51%
37%
68%
18%

11. People on the whole agree that if we paid more attention to
Englishness it would help to unite communities
Don't know, 5%
Disagree, 14%
Agree, 54%
Neither agree or
disagree, 28%
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the
following statement: 'Paying more attention to
Englishness will help to unite
communities and bring us all together'?

12. The Majority of people see themselves as both English
and British, however more people say they are English
first rather than British first
Which, if anything, describes the way you think of yourself?
Don't Know
British not English
More British than English
6%
8%
9%
37%
Equally English and British
More English than British
English Not British
19%
20%