Survey showing UK’s loss of pride in its past is encouraging, says historian

Public choosing Shakespeare over invasion' and becoming more discerning about Britain's history, says Alan Lester

A striking fall in pride in Britain's history, but widespread support for the arts, shows the public are choosing Shakespeare over invasion, exploitation and occupation", a leading historian has said.

The findings from the British Social Attitudes survey, published this week, show that while levels of pride in Britain's achievements in sport and the arts remained high over the past decade, there was a 22-point fall in the proportion of people saying they were proud of Britain's history.