This Is What Makes People Most Proud To Be British

A junior doctor in Leeds shows his pride in the NHS (Rex)

It may be in a state of perpetual crisis, but the NHS has topped a list of things which make people most proud to be British.

Despite a current industrial dispute involving junior doctors, a poll by Opinium found that almost four-in-ten people cite the health service, set-up almost 70 years ago, as the best thing about being a Briton.

The NHS got 36 per cent support, easily beating British history (25 per cent) and British humour (23 per cent) into second and third place.

Trailing in fourth spot was the Monarchy, which gained 22 per cent of votes, the same as the country’s landscape and architecture.

The Royal Family polled fourth (Rex)

Over 2,000 adults were quizzed about a few of their favourite British things.

James Sweatman, head of healthcare for Optimum, said: “For almost 70 years, the National Health Service has stood as a symbol of national pride and our commitment to the principles of equality and humanitarianism, and it is heart-warming to see it tops our list of things that make us proud to be British.”

The full top 5:

1. The NHS - 36%

2. British history - 25%

3. British sense of humour - 23%

4. The Monarchy - 22%

5. UK’s landscape and architecture - 22%

Source: Opinium