LESS than half of young people said they were proud to be British while half of them believe the UK is racist according to a new poll – as Nigel Farage blames Generation Z's attitudes towards the UK on schools.
A study into the views and beliefs of Generation Z adults, those aged 18-27, carried out by YouGov and Public First, for The Times has revealed that young people have declining positive attitudes towards Britain.
The study found only 41% of Generation Z Britons were proud to be British while 34% were not, it also found that almost half, 48% thought the country was racist, and just 15% believed the country was united.
In comparison in 2004, when The Times last commissioned a survey into young people’s attitudes, found 80% of young people said they were proud to be British while almost 60% said the country was united.
When comparing the generational divide among those who say they are proud to be British, 57% of 50-64 year olds and 70% of 60+ said they were.
The study, which was published on Monday, also found that 50% believed that the UK was stuck in the past and that only 11% would fight for Britain, with 41% stating there were no circumstances at all in which they would take up arms for their country.
Commenting on The Times findings, Reform UK leader Farage blamed the UK’s educational system for “willfully poisoning the minds” of young people, despite highlighting some of the issues Generation Z faces including the cost of living crisis and unaffordable house prices.
In a video posted on social media, the Clacton MP asked rhetorically “what’s going on”, before acknowledging young people have been “given a rotten deal”.
He said: “It’s really tough to buy a house, the cost of living is impossible.
“I know it’s broken Britain, but I think it’s something deeper here.”
Farage added: “I think the education system at school and particularly university is willfully poisoning the minds of all our young people about who we are as a country, our history, and what we stand for.
“I think the whole thing is an absolute disgrace.”
Farage then concluded in the short clip that when Reform UK “wins the next election”, they will teach young people that Britain is a “very great country”.
The Times polling suggested young people are at odds with Farage and his party’s ethos, as it showed that 76% believe immigration into Britain is good for the economy and society, which is up from 52% in 2004, with only 16% disagreeing.
