Nearly three-quarters of the population think children should be taught to be proud of British history, a poll reveals.
It found 72 per cent of the public support children being instilled with pride about the UK’s past while 14 per cent disagreed.
Meanwhile, 60 per cent said ‘on balance’, Britain had been a force for good in the world throughout history.
Just 13 per cent disagreed. Events from British history that people took most pride in included the nation’s role in the world wars, Magna Carta, the Industrial Revolution and the abolition of the slave trade.
It suggests that those on the Left who encourage others to feel ashamed of Britain’s history are in the minority.
The poll, which was part of a report titled A Portrait Of Modern Britain: Ethnicity And Religion by the Policy Exchange think-tank, also found 54 per cent of people from ethnic minority backgrounds think class is more important than race in determining whether someone succeeds in modern day Britain.
It pointed to the fact that White British pupils lag considerably behind multiple non-white ethnic-minority groups.
The report was backed by former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Sir Trevor Phillips and ex-Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi.
It says while Britain is largely ‘at ease’ with being one of the most diverse countries in Europe, riots sparked by the killing of three girls in Southport this summer ‘showed us social cohesion is more fragile than we thought’.
The report calls on ministers to launch a national integration strategy which should include teaching schoolchildren of every ethnic background to ‘be proud of their national heritage’.
Sir Trevor said: ‘Policy Exchange’s portrait of our nation teaches us one thing above all – our future rests on managing our diversity and complacency is the surest pathway to the growth of extremism and conflict.’