By George, let’s raise a glass to the NHS...
PATRIOTISM is alive and well with most English people celebrating St George’s Day yesterday.
Fifty-one per cent said they would do something special to mark the national saint’s day, according to a poll.
Meanwhile, six out of 10 in England, Wales and Scotland said they would rather be a citizen of Britain than of any other country – and the National Health Service makes us most proud of our nationality.
The Ipsos survey found going to the pub was the most popular activity to mark St George’s Day, followed by family gettogethers and going to a restaurant.
Seven out of 10 thought displaying the red and white flag of St George from houses, cars, pubs and shops is a healthy expression of national pride.
In addition, the number who felt the same way when the flag was flown during the Euros or World Cup jumped to 68 per cent from 57 per cent in 2013.
However, 17 per cent described seeing the flag on a normal day as a “worrying expression of English nationalism” – up from 11 per cent in 2013.
Delighted Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-mogg said: “In the 70th year of the Queen’s reign, the patriotism of her subjects is as vibrant as ever.”
He added that he hoped people across the UK would say: “Cry God for Elizabeth! England and St George.”
In the Ipsos survey, the statement “I would rather be a citizen of Britain than of any country in the world” was true for 70 per cent of those aged 55-75, and for 76 per cent of those who voted Tory at the last general election.
Sixty-two per cent said the NHS made them most proud to be British and 34 per cent said it was our history. The Royal Family was chosen by 31 per cent and the Armed Forces by 26 per cent.
There was less enthusiasm, however, for our culture and arts (19 per cent), system of democracy (18 per cent) and the BBC and sports teams (both 14 per cent).
Having a free press and media was plumped for by just 13 per cent and our position in the world by 10 per cent. And just five per cent made British business a top source of pride.
The research also shed light on some interesting attitudes to St George’s Day among those in England.
Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) correctly identified when the saint was honoured but 21 per cent did not know.and the Irish might be alarmed to learn that eight per cent of those polled thought St George’s Day was March 17 – when St Patrick’s memory is toasted.
Gideon Skinner, of Ipsos, said: “Despite the issues facing the country, most of us are still proud to be British.
“The NHS, in particular, is acting as a unifying force across all groups of society as something to believe in, especially so given the experiences of the pandemic.
“We may even be seeing some impact from the feelgood factor around Gareth Southgate’s England team, with an increase in the proportion who think flying the St George’s flag during a World Cup is just a healthy expression of English pride.”
Meanwhile, as celebrations took place around the country yesterday, national treasures Dame Judi Dench, 87, and Dame Joanna Lumley, 75, attended Shakespeare’s 458th birthday lunch at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-uponavon, Warks.