51% Britons say they're 'usually early', but couples divided on whether partner is usually on time
Are you always on time? What about your partner?
Over half of Britons say that when it comes to being somewhere or meeting someone, generally speaking, they are usually early. But despite the majority of respondents in relationships saying that they are usually early, and two in five saying that they are usually on time, when we asked the same people about the timekeeping habits of their partner, only around a third said that they thought their other half was usually on time, with over a quarter saying that actually, they reckon their partner is usually late.
Our poll also shows that younger people are more likely than older people to think that they're usually late getting places – while younger people in relationships are also much more likely to say that their partner is usually late.
Londoners are also slightly more likely than people in the rest of the country to say they're usually running behind, while Scots are the most likely to say they usually arrive early.
- 51% of British people say that generally speaking, they are usually early
- 38% said that they were usually on time
- While one in ten (10%) admitted that they were usually late
Leaving you hanging?
However, while 51% of people in a relationship said that personally, they reckon they are usually early, it seems that their partners don't necessarily agree.
- Just 36% of people in a relationship said that their partner is usually on time
- While a similar 35% said that their partner is usually early
- But 28% said that their partner is usually late
Men were split evenly across all options – with 33% apiece saying that their partner is early, on time, or late – but women were actually quite complimentary about their partner's timekeeping skills, with 40% saying that their other half is usually on time, 35% saying they're usually early, and just under a quarter (24%) saying that their partner is usually late.
Young…and late
Perhaps timekeeping improves with age? Our results show that younger people say they are more likely to be late than their older counterparts: 15% of 18-24s said that they were usually late, compared to just 2% of people over 60; while markedly fewer among the younger generation than the elder said they were usually early (42% versus 62% respectively).
The younger group of coupled-up respondents was also much harsher on their partners: 47% said that their other half was usually late compared to 21% of the older respondents.
On London time?
Does living in the capital make you late? Our results show that Londoners say they're slightly later in general, compared to people in other parts of the country; 15% admitted to being generally late, compared to 10% in the 8% in the North of England and the Midlands. Just 44% of Londoners say that they are usually early, compared to 57% of Scots.
The affliction seems to affect London-based couples, as well, with 36% of Londoners in a relationship saying that their partner is usually late compared to a low of 26% in the rest of South England, and Scotland.
See the survey details and full results here
