The Economist - British Identity
- MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 923 respondents aged 18+ at 81 sampling points across Great Britain.
- Interviews were conducted face-to-face on 24-27 September 1999.
- Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.
- An asterisk "*" denotes a figure of more than zero but less than 0.5%.
- Where figures do not add up to 100%, this could be due to computer rounding, multi-coded answers or the exclusion of "don't knows".
- Fieldwork was conducted as part of MORI's regular Omnibus for The Economist.
Q1 In a crisis, which of these - Europe, the Commonwealth or America - do you think would be Britain's most reliable political ally?
| % | |
| Europe | 16 |
| Commonwealth | 15 |
| America | 59 |
| All the same | 1 |
| None of these | 3 |
| Don't know | 6 |
Q2-3 I would now like you to think about three countries - France, Germany and America. Which one of these, if any, do you think Britain can learn most from in the way: … the economy works? … the way democracy and government works?
| Q2 | Q3 | |
| Economy | Demo/Govt. | |
| % | % | |
| France | 5 | 6 |
| Germany | 36 | 23 |
| America | 34 | 36 |
| All the same | 2 | 2 |
| None of these | 8 | 17 |
| Don't know | 14 | 16 |
Q4 Which two or three of these, if any, would you say you most identify with? Please read out all that apply.
| GB | Eng | Scot* | Wal* | |
| (923) | (789) | (94) | (40) | |
| % | % | % | % | |
| This local community | 41 | 42 | 39 | 32 |
| This (GOR) region | 50 | 49 | 62 | 50 |
| England/Scotland/Wales | 45 | 41 | 72 | 81 |
| Britain | 40 | 43 | 18 | 27 |
| Europe | 16 | 17 | 11 | 16 |
| The Commonwealth | 9 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| The global community | 8 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| None of these | * | * | 0 | 0 |
| Don't know | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
* = Small sample sizes
Q5 Which of two or three of these, if any, would you say you least identify with? Please read out all that apply.
| GB | Eng | Scot* | Wal* | |
| (923) | (789) | (94) | (40) | |
| % | % | % | % | |
| This local community | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| This (GOR) region | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| England/Scotland/Wales | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Britain | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Europe | 35 | 36 | 31 | 24 |
| The Commonwealth | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
| The global community | 55 | 54 | 61 | 59 |
| None of these | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Don't know | 6 | 5 | 7 | 11 |
* = Small sample sizes
Q6 And which of these flags, if any, do you identify with?
| GB | Eng | Scot* | Wal* | ||
| (923) | (789) | (94) | (40) | ||
| % | % | % | % | ||
 |
United Kingdom (the Union Jack) | 83 | 88 | 49 | 55 |
 |
England (Cross of St. George) | 33 | 38 | 2 | 3 |
 |
Scotland (Saltire/Cross of St. Andrew) | 23 | 18 | 75 | 8 |
 |
Wales (The Welsh Dragon) | 26 | 24 | 12 | 85 |
 |
European Union (12 stars) | 21 | 23 | 5 | 7 |
 |
United States (Stars and Stripes) | 23 | 26 | 7 | * |
| Don't know | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
* = Small sample sizes
Q7 In May this year, the government established a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly. It has also said that English regions can set up their own elected assemblies, where there is a demand for it. In 20 years' time, which of these bodies, if any, do you expect to have most influence over your life and the lives of your children?
| GB | Eng | Scot* | Wal* | |
| (923) | (789) | (94) | (40) | |
| % | % | % | % | |
| My local Council | 13 | 14 | 5 | 7 |
| Scottish Parliament/Welsh Assembly/ my regional assembly | 13 | 9 | 46 | 26 |
| The Westminster Parliament | 22 | 23 | 8 | 25 |
| The European Parliament/European Union | 44 | 46 | 31 | 37 |
| Don't know | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 |
* = Small sample sizes
Q8 How much say do you think people in England/Scotland/Wales have over the way they are governed - too much, too little, or about the right amount?
| GB | Eng | Scot | Wal | |
| (923) | (789) | (94) | (40) | |
| % | % | % | % | |
| Too much | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| About the right amount | 27 | 28 | 20 | 21 |
| Too little | 67 | 66 | 78 | 77 |
| Don't know | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
