Nearly half of the British public (48%) think that Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with the USA is a good thing, our poll of public sentiment in the wake of President Obama and First Lady Michelle’s first state visit to the UK, has revealed, while opinion is also split over whether Britain should work to be closer to the EU or USA in general.
- 48% of Brits said that Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with the USA is a ‘good thing’
- Just 9% thought it was a ‘bad thing’
- But a substantial 30% thought that there was ‘no special relationship’ with the USA
However, this ambivalence didn’t appear to be a sign of any particularly strong European feeling instead.
- 46% of Brits believe that Britain should strengthen its relationships with both the European Union and the United States equally
- Compared to 21% who think Britain should seek to have a stronger relationship with the US than Europe
- And 13% who believe that the country’s relationship with Europe is more important
The poll also indicates a slight trend of favourable public opinion towards the United States over the past six years. Survey results of the same questions in 2005 (three years before President Obama’s presidential win) showed that 22% of Brits thought Britain should seek a stronger relationship with the EU, while just 13% selected the USA – an almost reversal of today’s figures. However, the percentage of those who think both relationships are equally as important has remained stable, at 48% in 2005 and 46% now.
