Member Article

Brexit: Are we headed for a brighter future?

A new study has revealed that over a third (34%) of us are not proud to be British. The study carried out by human insight consultancy, One Minute to Midnight showed just 15% of the population are more proud to be British than they were this time last year.

38% of the 65+ age group say they are ‘completely proud’ to be British, but only 9% of 18-24 year olds agreed with them.

Just under a quarter (23%) of respondents felt that the UK was headed for a brighter future. When digging deeper the survey also showed that 35% of people over 55 think that the country is headed for a brighter future, while only 14% of those between the ages of 18-24 agreed.

The survey of 1057 people also revealed deep-seated issues around politicians and trust. More likely to be cynical were the over 55’s with a meagre 1% trusting politicians and only 2% of the rest of the population having trust in our leaders. Although 5% had ‘faith’ in politics.

A huge 43% also said that the results of the American election and the outcome of the Brexit referendum make them worry for the future of the world.

Interestingly just 12% of those surveyed said they would have voted for President Trump. The 45-55 year olds were most likely to have voted for the new President with 16% of this age group backing him. More men than women would have voted for Trump with the vote at 17% vs 6% respectively.

It seems that we are also increasingly cynical of business and corporation. Just 14% of people think that business is a force for good in the world. However 39% of us support the idea that, with change, business might play a large part in building a better future for Britain.

Paul Laver, co-founder of One Minute To Midnight comments: “There is no doubt that 2016 was a year of geopolitical upheaval. Not only has Brexit changed the way we view ourselves as a nation, but world politics and the election of Trump have also given us cause for concern on a global scale. But looking at these numbers closely one has to question is there really such a thing as we, the British people. There are chasmic intergenerational divides in terms of the happiness with the direction we are taking as a country and hope for the future. The only thing that seems to bind people together is their total lack of faith with the politics!”

“As Brexit plans unfold and Trump takes up his position in the White House, it will be interesting to see how the opinions of our fractured nation fluctuate over the next twelve months, and whether we will end 2017 closer together or driven further apart.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Laver .