Britons think UK is in a bad way, but French more pessimistic, survey shows

Exclusive: Poll finds widespread unhappiness in European countries with way things are going, and lack of optimism

Britons are the most likely of seven European nations to say their country is in a sorry state, but the French are the most likely to think things will get worse over the next 12 months, according to a poll weeks before high-stakes elections in both countries.

With the exception of Denmark, however, none of the European countries surveyed by YouGov in late May and early June revealed themselves to be particularly happy with the the way things were going, or overly optimistic for the future.