State Of Citizenship In Britain Survey
95% of Britons agree with the statement that "schools should teach children about how to be a good citizen" and 66% agree strongly with the statement - shows the Institute for Citizenship / NatWest, State of Citizenship in Britain survey, conducted by MORI.
- 90% of young people claim to know just a little or less about their local council
- 90% of young people claim to know just a little or less about the European Union
- 81% of young people claim to know just a little or less about the way Parliament works
- 65% of young people claim to know just a little or less about their rights as a citizen
- 52% of young people claim to know just a little or less about their responsibilities as a citizen
Jenny Talbot, Chief Executive, Institute for Citizenship said "When 90% of young people claim to know less than a little about their local council or the European Union, it isn't surprising that voter turnout is as low as 1 in 3. This isn't apathy. This is a lack of information."
"The Institute for Citizenship urges this government to act. The democratic future of Britain requires investment . Education for citizenship is the foundation of a healthy democratic society."
15 September 1998
40% think Britain is getting worse as a place to live - shows the Institute for Citizenship / NatWest State of Citizenship in Britain survey, conducted by MORI.
Research also shows that 95% of Britons consider themselves good citizens, whereas only 67% believe the same to be true of Britons as a whole.
Asked how much they feel they know about each of the following, respondents showed a surprising lack of knowledge:
- 72% claim to know little / hardly anything about their local council
- 64% claim to know little / hardly anything about the way Parliament works
- 83% claim to know little / hardly anything about the European Union
- 82% claim to know little / hardly anything about companies' involvement in society and the community
- 77% claim to know little / hardly anything about proportional representation
- 15% claim never to have heard about proportional representation
Jenny Talbot, Chief Executive of the Institute for Citizenship, said: "Young people are more positive about Britain than their parents. But citizenship education now must become a priority. With a concerted effort, Britain can look forward to a strong future."
Topline Results
- MORI interviewed 896 British adults aged 15+ face-to-face in 76 Enumeration District Sampling Points nationwide between 17-21 July 1998.
- Data weighted to the known population profile.
- All figures are in % unless otherwise stated.
- An asterisk (*) represents a value of less than one half of one per cent, but not zero.
- Totals may not add up to 100%, due to multiple answers or computer rounding.
Q1 Generally speaking, do you think that Britain as a place to live is getting better or worse or is it staying the same?
| % | |
| Getting better | 24 |
| Getting worse | 40 |
| Staying the same | 33 |
| Don't know / no opinion | 3 |
| Net better (better - worse) | -16 |
Q2 Which two or three of these do you feel are most important to being a good citizen?
| % | |
| Being a good neighbour | 30 |
| Setting a good example to others | 20 |
| Giving something back to your community / society | 10 |
| Improving your local area / community | 6 |
| Respecting others | 41 |
| Challenging the law when you think it is wrong | 6 |
| Knowing your responsibilities as a citizen | 11 |
| Knowing your rights as a citizen | 4 |
| Volunteering to do things | 4 |
| Having a say in what goes on | 8 |
| Obeying the law | 39 |
| Paying taxes | 9 |
| Voting at elections | 9 |
| Helping to reduce/preventing crime | 15 |
| Being a good parent | 40 |
| Being active in the community | 6 |
| Looking after the environment you live in | 30 |
| Other | * |
| Don't know / no opinion | * |
Q3 How strongly do you feel you belong to the following...? a) The local community in which you live b) England / Scotland / Wales c) Great Britain d) Europe
| a | b | c | d | |
| % | % | % | % | |
| Very strongly | 32 | 51 | 40 | 7 |
| Fairly strongly | 43 | 33 | 38 | 28 |
| Not very strongly | 20 | 12 | 16 | 41 |
| Not at all strongly | 5 | 3 | 5 | 23 |
| Don't know / no opinion | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Very / fairly strongly | 75 | 84 | 78 | 35 |
| Not very / not at all strongly | 25 | 15 | 21 | 64 |
| Net strongly | 50 | 69 | 57 | -29 |
Q4 I am now going to read out a list, and I would like you to tell me, from this card, how much if anything, you feel you know about each one? a) Your rights as a citizen b) Your responsibilities as a citizen c) Your local council d) The way Parliament works e) The European Union f) Companies' involvement in society and the community g) Proportional representation
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| Great deal | 6 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Fair amount | 44 | 50 | 23 | 29 | 14 | 14 | 18 |
| Just a little | 37 | 28 | 43 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 28 |
| Hardly anything at all | 12 | 7 | 28 | 31 | 48 | 44 | 34 |
| Never heard of | 0 | * | 1 | * | 4 | 4 | 15 |
| Don't know | 1 | * | * | * | * | 2 | 2 |
| Great deal / fair amount | 50 | 64 | 28 | 36 | 17 | 16 | 21 |
| Just a little / hardly anything | 49 | 35 | 71 | 64 | 79 | 78 | 62 |
| Net knowledgeable | 1 | 29 | -43 | -28 | -62 | -62 | -41 |
Q5 Now I would like to ask you some questions about Citizenship in Britain. I am going to read out a number of statements and I would like you to tell me whether you agree or disagree with each one.
Schools should teach children about how to be a good citizen
| % | |
| Strongly agree | 66 |
| Tend to agree | 29 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 3 |
| Tend to disagree | 2 |
| Strongly disagree | * |
| Don't know / no opinion | * |
| Agree | 95 |
| Disagree | 2 |
| Net agree | 93 |
Q9a Do you consider yourself to be a good citizen or a bad citizen? Q9b In the main, do you consider Britons to be good or bad citizens?
| Yourself | Britons | |
| % | % | |
| Good citizen(s) | 95 | 67 |
| Bad citizen(s) | * | 7 |
| Both good and bad | 4 | 24 |
| Don't know / no opinion | 1 | 2 |
| Net good citizen(s) | 95 | 60 |
The Institute for Citizenship undertook this research in order to clarify the public's attitude to citizenship, to provide meaningful data that can feed into public planning, educational programmes and serve to stimulate public debate. As good corporate citizens, NatWest supports the work of the Institute for Citizenship and its efforts to promote informed, active citizenship and greater participation in democracy and society.
The Institute for Citizenship was founded in 1992 by then Speaker of the House, Lord Weatherill.
