March 26, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain are in favour of a proposal to increase people’s sense of citizenship, according to a poll by YouGov. 69 per cent of respondents support the creation of a "British Day" national holiday.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain are in favour of a proposal to increase people’s sense of citizenship, according to a poll by YouGov. 69 per cent of respondents support the creation of a "British Day" national holiday.

When asked about whether the country should hold citizenship ceremonies for all school leavers including an oath of allegiance to the Queen, 42 per cent of respondents disagree, 36 per cent call for an oath to the country, and 15 per cent agree with an oath to the monarch.

Earlier this month, former British attorney general Peter Goldsmith released his report on British citizenship and constitutional reform, which had been commissioned by current head of government Gordon Brown. Goldsmith defined Britain as a "divided country" and issued proposals to "promote the meaning and significance of citizenship within modern Britain."

The main proposals tendered by Goldsmith include creating a British national day in 2012, holding ceremonies where schoolchildren would swear allegiance to the Queen, abolishing rarely performed verses of the national anthem, and offering language loans for people who cannot afford English lessons.

Scottish first minister Alex Salmond expressed dismay at the recommendations, saying, "I am not sure how seriously we should take this, frankly. It has a kind of Comic Cuts, a Monty Pythonesque, Basil Fawlty approach to citizenship. We will concentrate on the real job of making Scotland the best place it possibly can be for young Scots to grow up confident about their nationality."

Polling Data

Turning to a different topic, proposals have been made to increase people’s sense of British citizenship. Do you agree or disagree with the following recommendations?

A new "British Day" national holiday

Agree	69%
Disagree	25%
Don’t know	6%

Citizenship ceremonies for all school leavers including an oath of allegiance to the Queen

Agree with a ceremony including an oath of allegiance	15%
Agree with ceremony but oath of allegiance should be to the country, not the Queen	36%
Disagree	42%
Don’t know	7%

Source: YouGov
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,311 British adults, conducted on Mar. 13 and Mar. 14, 2008. No margin of error was provided.