Football hooligans, racism and the NHS: what the young say is wrong with Britain

The jubilee bunting is still in place and the Cross of St George flutters from balconies and bedroom windows across England, but Britain's youth is suffering an identity crisis.

In what is described as the biggest survey of its kind, young people in Britain are seen to be more likely to be "ashamed" than "proud" of their country, blaming hooliganism, violence and national arrogance for their unease.

More than 11,000 people aged between 16 and 29 were polled by The Face magazine for its "census" of young adults. Eighty-three per cent said they would be happy to leave the country and live abroad.

The typical British young man or woman sympathises with the Liberal Democrats – but probably can't be bothered actually to vote for them – admires the Body Shop, distrusts McDonald's and copes with a general disaffection by rolling a cannabis joint rather than lighting a cigarette.

This reflection of deep alienation among British youth, published today, is markedly at odds with recent suggestions that this summer was witnessing the birth of a renewed sense of national identity.

The sight of a million people thronging The Mall in London for the Queen's golden jubilee, followed by celebrations of the sporting success of the England football team and the boxer Lennox Lewis have contributed to the idea of a nation once again at ease with itself and proud of its achievements.

Writing in the Daily Mail this week under the headline "The magic behind our new pride and patriotism", Lord Hattersley remarked: "We are all patriots now – patriots of the new England in the 21st century." The former deputy leader of the Labour Party commented on the World Cup campaign: "English success has been built on a team which is as multiracial as England's society."

But the Face census suggests that for a sizeable proportion of male teenagers at least, the triumphant waving of the red cross on a white background is far from a celebration of a multicultural nation. The survey discovered an "emerging racist attitude among teenage boys", with almost one-third supporting the idea of racial segregation.

The poll asked young people if they agreed with the statement: "Everyone has fundamental rights, but it is better for all of us that different sorts of people should keep to their own." Although only 14 per cent of young females were prepared to support the sentiment, 31 per cent of males aged between 16 and 19 said they agreed.

Young people were also sceptical about the ability of foreigners to assimilate in Britain. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents believed first- generation immigrants "can never be fully integrated", with the figure rising to 48 per cent among teenage boys.

There were some conflicting attitudes. When asked what made them most ashamed to be British, 20 per cent cited football hooliganism and 10 per cent racism. More (65 per cent) felt ashamed to be British than felt proud of their country, although the reverse pattern was true of teenage boys. The presence of discrimination within British society was regarded with scepticism and 59 per cent of those polled disagreed with the suggestion that "white people get the best jobs".

Young people felt disengaged from the political system and 83 per cent said they believed that even fewer under-25s would vote in the next election. The Liberal Democrats enjoyed the support of 25 per cent of those polled but 24 per cent said they would rather not vote for anyone. Labour had 23 per cent of support, with the Conservatives receiving 13 per cent and the Green party 8 per cent. Labour was the most popular party among those aged 25 to 29, with 27 per cent support.

The survey found that young people based their core values on "a sense of right and wrong" and not on "political, ideological or religious" beliefs.

Anita Roddick's Body Shop was named as the most "responsible brand" by 29 per cent of respondents to the internet-based survey, followed by Virgin with 7 per cent. Other respected names were the BBC, Oxfam and the Co- operative Bank, which all received 5 per cent of votes. The list of despised "irresponsible" companies was headed by McDonald's (31 per cent) and Nike (29 per cent), followed by Microsoft (15 per cent), Gap and Nestlé (both 11 per cent) and the oil companies Shell (9 per cent) and Esso (7 per cent).

Asked which areas of society they would most like to improve, most cited the National Health Service and the education system.

Respondents showed little fear about drugs, and the poll showed that cannabis use was more prevalent than tobacco among all young age groups. Cannabis was used by 51 per cent of 16 to 19-year-olds, rising to 53 per cent of those in the 25 to 29 bracket. Tobacco was used by 36 per cent of teenagers, rising to 50 per cent for the older age group.

The poll showed that drug use rose sharply as people entered their twenties. Ecstasy and cocaine use was at 9 per cent and 7 per cent among 16 to 19-year-olds, increasing to 26 and 27 per cent respectively among 25 to 29-year-olds.

Two-thirds thought that the drugs they used should be decriminalised and only 47 per cent believed alcohol was "less dangerous than other drugs". Although The Face is closely associated with club culture, only 28 per cent thought ecstasy users should not be prosecuted.

Such ambiguity was repeated in the attitude of young people towards Tony Blair. They were divided over the progress of the country under Labour, with 46 per cent saying Britain had become "a worse place to live" in the past five years, while 76 per cent complained that the Government did not listen to their generation. But Mr Blair was the runaway nomination as the most appropriate president of a future republic of the United Kingdom, polling 11 per cent of votes. Richard Branson garnered 3 per cent, with Tony Benn, Mo Mowlam and Ken Livingstone polling 2 per cent each.

However, such contradictions are perhaps unsurprising. While growing up in the so-called information age, young Britons claim to have found themselves swamped by spin and propaganda. Asked by the survey if they agreed that "Fusion of information, entertainment and advertising makes it hard to know what to believe", the respondents overwhelmingly concurred, particularly young women (70 per cent) and teenagers (68 per cent).

Most young people (63 per cent) said the most powerful influence in British society was the press and 76 per cent said they did not believe the media. Corporations (85 per cent) and politicians (84 per cent) were even more distrusted.

Young people now regard police officers – historically disliked by many in their parents' and even grandparents' generations – as comparatively honest (only 43 per cent said they were not to be believed).

But the survey's authors say "Trust no one" is the motto for youth. Face-painted and flag-waving youth may appear to be putting down its roots. But the survey reveals an underlying sense of detachment and uncertainty. Maybe it is fitting that one of those who made young people "proud to be British" was Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy character Ali G; a possibly Asian but actually Jewish, would-be West Coast American hip-hopper from Staines, via Hampstead.