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British Social Attitudes:
The 19th Report
Edited by Alison Park, John Curtice, Katarina Thomson,
Lindsey Jarvis and Catherine Bromley
The following is a brief summary of findings in the chapter of the report on attitudes to English regional governance and identity:
English to the Core?
Anthony Heath, Catherine Rothon and Lindsey Jarvis
More than half the population of England (57%) do not support the creation of regional assemblies or an English parliament and are content for England to be governed as it is now.
However, a significant minority (23%) of English people would like to see assemblies, the most supportve being in the North East and North West, where 29% and 28% respectively are in favour of this option.
These results do not mean there is contentment with British democracy in general. In face, art only 2%, the proportion who feel democracy "works extremely well" is very small.
NatCen's Lindsey Jarvis says, "Despite dissatisfaction with the way British government works, there isn't a great demand either for regional assemblies or for an English parliament. these remedies aren't seen as the cure."
Indeed, only a third (32%) of those interviewed think regional assemblies will give ordinary people mopre say, while 29 % think they will improve the region's economy. The three northern regions are the most optimistic about these benefits - 42% of people in the North East think assemblies would improve their economy.
There are notable differences in levels of regional pride - we found the highest proportions of people who feel "very proud" to live in their region in Yorkshire and Humberside (46%), the North East (44%) and the North West (34%). The overall figure for all the English regions is 22%.
British Social Attitudes: The 19th Report is published by Sage, price £37.50.
Read details of the project led by Anthony Heath in the ESRC research programme on Devolution and Constitutional Change: National Identity and Constitutional Change in England
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