Three-quarters of the 6,000 adults surveyed believed British people shared a common set of values. Photograph: Jill Mead/The GuardianView image in fullscreenThree-quarters of the 6,000 adults surveyed believed British people shared a common set of values. Photograph: Jill Mead/The GuardianSocial trendsHard work or humour? Take the British values quizPoll finds consensus on what makes people proud to be British but deep divisions on issues such as immigrationAlexandra Topping Political correspondent Tue 11 Aug 2026 15.00 CESTLast modified on Tue 11 Aug 2026 15.15 CESTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleYou may think it’s a commitment to buying a round, the ability to chat at length about the weather, or making a proper cup of tea. But when it comes down to what makes people proud to be British, there is a consensus across all ages, demographics and political groups – and tea, pints and the weather don’t get a look-in.Hard work, fair play and community are the values that voters – no matter which political party, age group, social class or region they come from – instinctively believe capture what it means to be British, according to a large-scale study of British values by Public First.“When you talk to people across Britain it’s clear they have a shared set of values – if fairness is Britain’s moral compass, hard work is its character and community the thing that binds us,” said Olivia Walsham, the director of social policy at the policy and polling research firm.But the research found that while most voters could agree on this core set of values, they were deeply pessimistic about finding common ground: more than 65% of respondents felt that in a post Brexit-era, Britain is more divided than ever.1.What makes the most Brits feel proud to live in the UK today?Iconic products like tea and fish and chipsThe NHSBritish humourOur sporting achievementsReveal2.Which quality do Brits most associate with British people?PoliteHumorousHard-workingReservedReveal3.How many Brits say that when they make themselves a cup of tea, they always ask if anyone else wants one?Around 4 in 10Around 6 in 10Around 8 in 10Reveal4.Which country do Brits think has values most similar to our own?The United StatesAustraliaFranceIrelandReveal5.What proportion of Brits say they have a 'stiff upper lip'?Around a thirdAround a halfAround two thirdsReveal6.How many Brits get frustrated when someone tries to skip the queue?55%70%85%Reveal7.'When at a pub, everyone should buy a round.' How many Brits agree?Around 45%Around 65%Around 85%Reveal8.Which historic event do Brits most say exemplifies what it means to be British?The end of the Second World WarThe creation of the NHSThe Battle of HastingsThe BlitzReveal9.Who do Brits think plays the biggest role in upholding British values today?PoliticiansThe Royal FamilyFamilies and parentsSchools and teachersReveal10.62% of people who volunteered in the last month feel optimistic about the future of their local area. What’s the figure for people who have never volunteered?25%40%55%RevealAs Andy Burnham embarks on a summer “listening” tour of the UK and vows to “bring back hope”, the report suggests he has his work cut out, with fewer than one in three people feeling hopeful about the UK’s future, and seven in 10 feeling that things have become worse in the last five years.But three-quarters of the public believed British people shared a common set of values – ranging from 70% of Reform UK voters to 83% of Labour-leaning voters.In the study, which polled 6,000 adults and spoke to 300 people in focus groups, participants were asked to choose which values they thought were the most important – forcing them to make trade-offs.View image in fullscreenPlatinum jubilee celebrations in south London. Only 27% of those polled thought the royal family played the biggest role in upholding British values today, however. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian“Hard-working” topped the list of qualities the public associated with British people, with 70% describing hard work as a British value. “Community” was also key, with 80% of people agreeing Britain was at its best when neighbours looked out for one another. Contributing to society boosted positive views: 62% of those who had volunteered in the last month said they were optimistic about their local area’s future, compared with 25% of those who had never volunteered.Unsurprisingly for a population that can’t pass a queue without joining it, the notion of “fairness” or waiting one’s turn was the clearest shared value. Asked for examples of what described British life at its best, citizens referenced queueing, the NHS, fair play, taking turns, treating people equally, and the expectation that everyone should play by the rules.The report also exposes deep-seated division, especially on immigration. Half of respondents said immigration had had a negative impact on the UK, while only one-fifth said a diversity of people and cultures made them proud to live in the UK.Sunder Katwala, the director of British Future, said the report showed that British people had become not only more divided, but more “discomfited by how divided we feel”.skip past newsletter promotionFree newsletter | Every weekdaySign up to First EditionOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersPreview latestEnter your email Sign upafter newsletter promotionIn a political landscape in which no political party was polling at higher than 25%, politicians were more likely to appeal to their base using divisive language, he added.View image in fullscreen‘People are looking for a unifying sense of what we share,’ said Sunder Katwala, the director of British Future. Photograph: Ethan Parker/The Guardian“Politics should be about articulating how people feel about the world, but also the peaceful resolution of differences,” Katwala said. “There are some glimmers of hope in this research, people are looking for a unifying sense of wha
