Views of britain. The official view

Britain is a stable and democratic society. Its citizens have freedom of speech, and political and religious belief. It is a leading member of both the European Community and the Com­monwealth and has a major world role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The home of the industrial revolution, it continues to be an important industrial nation. Although small in area and account­ing for only about 1 per cent of the world's population, Britain is the fourth largest trading nation in the world. After years of sustained growth it is one of the largest exporters of goods and a major centre for financial and insurance services. It has the largest energy resources of any country in the European Com­munity and is an important world producer of oil, natural gas and coal. Its labour force has high levels of technical and com­mercial skill. British agriculture is noted for its efficiency and productivity and at the same time comprehensive planning and control have steadily reduced air and water pollution.

Britain’s National Health Service is famous worldwide and its universities and institutes of higher education, attract over 50,000 foreign students a year. Britain has for centuries encou­raged research and innovation and its record of achievements has been maintained throughout the twentieth century. Nobel prizes for science have been won by sixty-eight British citizens, a number exceeded only by the United States. In the fields of arts, broadcasting and sport Britain continues to lead the world.

Тhe people's view

Mrs Thatcher created a society which is richer and freer, but also unhappier and more selfish, according to a survey for the Observer newspaper.

People were asked how they thought Britain had changed over the past ten years: 48 % thought people were richer, compared with 36 % who thought people were poorer. Asked about freedom, 44 % thought people now had more freedom, compared with 24 % who believed they had less. These positive views of Margaret Thatcher's 'enterprise culture" were balanced by some negative results: 48 % thought people were 'more unhappy’ today than ten years ago; 21 % believed people were 'happier’.

The answers showed considerable differences between various sections of society. Women felt much more, strongly than men that life was worse (47 % compared with 37 %). So did the old (49 %) and those living in the north of England (47 %).

How has Britain changed over the past ten years?

Richer 48%

Poorer 36%

More freedom 44%

Leas freedom 24%

More unhappy 48%

Happier 21%

Store selfish 61%

More generous 19%

life is worse 42%

life is better 39%

A dirtier country 68%

A cleaner country 15%

Ьеаз friendly people 52%

Friendlier people 23%

More intolerant 37%

More tolerant 35%

More violent, society 59%

less violent society 12%

There were a number of reasons for people's opinions. For example, when asked whether Britain was cleaner or dirtier than it had been ten years before, people mentioned an increase in dirt and rubbish in cities and the countryside. People's views on friendliness were influenced by their experience of service industries such as hotels and shops.

The figures on tolerance were more difficult to interpret: so­me people thought that it referred to racial tolerance and opi­nion was divided on whether Britain was becoming a more integ­rated society; others thought that tolerance of political views had declined and that left and right-wing views and become more extreme.

A large majority (59 %) believed that Britain had be­come a more violent society. They pointed to the increase in violent crime (for example, muggings and robberies on the Lon­don Underground) and the violent reputation of British football supporters.