Are you proud to be British? Whichever way you answer, you might find a lot of your friends disagree with you.

That is according to a new survey from the National Centre for Social ResearchA UK independent social research institute. It is a charity which aims to improve society. , which found just 64% of people are proud of Britain's history, down from 86% in 2013. While 69% of people back then were proud of British democracy, the figure now is just 53%.¹

The findings come in troubled times. Far-rightA range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents. riots over the summer shook many people's belief in Britain's social cohesion. Institutions like museums, universities, and the National TrustA charity operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that maintains historic buildings and country estates for the public. Founded in 1895, today it owns more than 500 properties, as well as a large and expanding art collection. have been leading a national conversation that is increasingly critical of Britain's past, especially its history of empire and slavery.

But the survey is not all doom and gloom. It finds people have got prouder of British sports and culture.

This suggests people are not really losing pride in their country. They are just finding different things to cherish. So here are five values that British people might take pride in today:

Anti-racism. The far-right violence in July was shocking. The good news is the counter-demonstrations were much larger. Surveys show a clear majority of Britons feel comfortable working for, being related by marriage to and living with people from ethnic minorities.² In contrast, nearly a third of French people would not want their child to marry a Black person, and almost half would not want them to marry someone of ArabArabia includes the countries on the coast of north Africa (from Morocco in the north-west) and the Arabian peninsula. It does not include Iran, which is in Asia but which is the most significant supporter of Shia Islam. origin.³

Giving back. Three of the world's most influential charities - Save the ChildrenAn international non-governmental organisation that aims to improve the lives of children. It was founded in the UK in 1919. , OxfamAn international charity, originally British, that works to alleviate global poverty., and Amnesty InternationalAn international non-governmental organisation focused on human rights. - are based in the UK. Another, the International Rescue CommitteeAn international non-governmental organisation that provides humanitarian aid. , is based in the US but has British leadership. Right now, British aid workers are on the ground in conflict zones around the world. Charity is a British value.

Just causes. When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Britain was the first country to offer its full-throated support. Polls showed the British public was more steadfast than any other in its backing for the beleaguered country, and while other western countries now have large political movements that want to cut off aid, there is still a broad pro-Ukraine consensus in the UK.⁴

Climate leadership. The UK has taken a central role at global climate summits for years: in 2015 it was instrumental in forming the Paris AgreementAn agreement signed by 196 countries to try to limit global warming., and six years later it hosted COP26Cop stands for  Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, where it was praised for its ambitious emissions targets. It lost ground somewhat when Rishi SunakA British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2024. U-turned on his green plans, but Labour has promised to put it back at the forefront of global climate measures.⁵

Soft power. Britain is a cultural powerhouse, producing some of the world's best films, TV, and literature. The 2024 Oscars delivered wins for Brits Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Glazer. Series like David AttenboroughAn English broadcaster and natural historian known for his wildlife documentaries. 's Planet Earth, Top Gear, Downton Abbey and The Crown are loved around the globe. Peppa Pig is so influential that some young American viewers end up speaking with British accents.⁶

Should these five ideas cheer us up?

Yes: The times change and we change with the times. Instead of wallowing in Britain's past, we should learn to value what is special about its present, and work towards its future.

No: A nation that has not reckoned with its history and found a narrative it can agree upon is doomed to fail. We cannot solve our national malaiseA feeling of sadness or uneasiness. without first agreeing who we are and where we came from.

Or... The truth may be that in modern Britain, people do not spend too much of their time thinking about what it means to be British. That may even be for the best.