Remoaners ‘begin to relax about Brexit’ as figures show England is happier than ever

PEOPLE in England are the happiest they have been since records began, as evidence begins to suggest they are becoming “more relaxed about Brexit”.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that average happiness levels in the year to June 2017 rose to 7.52 out of 10, up from 7.46 in 2016 and the highest since the data was first collected in 2011.

The proportion of “very happy” people rose from 31.39 in 2012 to 35.08 this year.

Average life satisfaction grew from 7.43 to 7.69, with more than 80 per cent reporting high or very high levels. More than a third report feeling their life is very worthwhile, with just 3.7 per cent giving a score less than four out of 10.

But while happiness in England is higher than ever, Northern Ireland saw its average score fall slightly from 7.74 to 7.64. Life satisfaction also fell, from 7.88 to 7.86, while in Scotland it rose 0.01 to 7.69.

Explaining its report, the ONS said

‘As time goes on, people are becoming more relaxed about the implications of Brexit’

the changes could be down to an improved economy and cited evidence that fewer people seemed worried about the effect Brexit would have on their standard of living.

Data collected by polling company Ipsos MORI earlier this year found that 40 per cent of people believe leaving the EU will make no difference to their standard of living, up from 24 per cent in October 2016. The ONS said this was “possibly implying that as time goes on, people are becoming more relaxed about the implications of Brexit”.

It added: “The employment rate is at its highest level since comparable records began in 1971 and the unemployment rate is at its joint lowest since 1975.” But the report added: “Although Article 50 has been triggered, we have not yet left the EU and hence the implications on the daily lives of people in the UK remain to be seen.” It also noted that overall anxiety levels in the UK had risen in the past two years.

The ONS found that Craven in North Yorkshire was the happiest place in the UK, the first time an English place has come top since 2011.