MENU
Uncategorised

Britain is the LEAST European nation in EU…two thirds of us say we’re ‘only British’

BRITAIN is the least ‘European’ nation in the 28-bloc – with two thirds of Britons shunning an EU identity.

The majority of Britons insist they are British rather than European
The majority of Britons insist they are British rather than European  GETTY

As the campaigns to persuade the UK to remain or leave the European Union start to take shape, a poll may offer an insight into the minds of voters after it found 64 per cent of Britons said they felt “only British”.
Just one in six people (15 per cent) said they would describe themselves as wholly European.

This is in stark contrast to Germany, with just 25 per cent of citizens saying they felt “only German” and not European, and 36 per cent of people in France saying they were “only French”.

Pressure groups are already setting out their stall to persuade voters to either choose out or in in referendum promised to take place before the end of 2017, but which could be as early as next year.

David Cameron has promised an in-out referendum by the end of 2017

David Cameron has promised an in-out referendum by the end of 2017  GETTY

The findings, from research agency NatCen social research who questioned 1,000 people in each country, suggests campaigners on either side should still concentrate on the economic and political benefits rather than European identity.The Brexit campaign would be “unwise to pursue arguments along the lines of ‘We are British not European’ ” – as many people who feel this way still want ties with Brussels.

Half of Britons who said they did not feel European still want to remain in the Union.

The number of Britons saying they do not consider themselves to be ‘European’ at all was the highest in the EU, with Cyprus and Greece closely followed in second and third place.

Researchers said this shows “British people do not appear to see ourselves as a nation of Europeans” and that this is unlikely to change.

In Scotland, while support for leaving the EU is lower overall than in England, 23 per cent of those who said they were “Scottish not British”.

David Cameron at a meeting of EU leaders earlier this year

David Cameron at a meeting of EU leaders earlier this year  GETTY

People who felt the strongest about their European identity were from Luxembourg, Germany and Malta.Rachel Ormston, who wrote the report, said: “Relatively few people in Britain feel European, and this has been the case ever since Britain joined the EU in 1973.

“But those who lack a European identity are divided in their views – just because we don’t feel European doesn’t necessarily mean we think we should leave the EU.”

Nigel Farage poses beside a poster after an 'out' press conference this summer

Nigel Farage poses beside a poster after an ‘out’ press conference this summer  GETTY

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/615198/European-Union-referendum-Britain-least-European-nation-Brexit-EU-British

Posted on 28th October 2015 by . This entry was posted in Uncategorised. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.

MENU
Powered by: Wordpress
%d bloggers like this: