BRITAIN has emerged as one of the most tolerant nations in the world. A wide-ranging survey of national attitudes, comparing international beliefs and values, found that we are more likely to embrace our neighbours whatever their ethnic background. Britons are also more tolerant of casual sex, divorce and drug use.

However, while Britons are more accepting of alternative lifestyles, they are less trusting of public institutions. Confidence in the political system in this country is half that in many other countries. The World Values Survey was compiled using research from the London School of Economics. About 175,000 people were questioned in 81 countries.

It finds that Britain is one of the more easy-going nations when it comes to who we are happy to live next to. In Britain, 91% are not concerned by having neighbours of a different race compared with 68% in Turkey, 83% in Belgium and a world average of 84%.

Gay people are also less likely to be discriminated against in Britain. Only a quarter of us think homosexuality is “never justifiable”, compared with 32% of Americans, 71% of Indians and a world average of 56%. The findings confirm Britain’s long history of accepting people with different backgrounds and lifestyles, according to Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality.

“This is a picture of high tolerance, which is a British tradition,” he said. “Not only are we in general more tolerant than other societies, it’s the key to the British character.”

The nation’s relaxed attitudes extend into other areas of life. Marriage appears to be taken less seriously in Britain than many other countries, with the proportion who believe it is an outdated institution rising from 18% to 26% between 1990 and 2000. Nearly nine out of 10 believe divorce can be justified, compared with a world average of 74%.

While 45% of Britons believe adultery can be justified in line with the world average, we are more likely than most to regard fidelity as being one of the components of a successful marriage. Experts suggested that the British could be evolving beyond the traditional concept of marriage, with some people now viewing it as a very serious commitment but one that might not last a lifetime.

The British are also more accepting of casual sex: 63% believe casual sex can be justified compared with 61% in Germany, 51% in Italy and just 6% in Malta.

Smoking marijuana is likely to cause less concern in Britain than most of the rest of Europe. Only 52% of us believe smoking marijuana is never justified, compared with a European average of 75%.

Attitudes to abortion are markedly less moralistic in Britain than other countries, with only a quarter believing it can never be justified, compared with a world average of 44%. The nation most tolerant of abortion is Sweden, where only 5% disapprove very strongly whatever the circumstances. Zimbabwe is the most pro-life, 92% believing abortion can never be justified.

Britain is markedly more open to euthanasia than most other countries and is also ready to believe that suicide can be justifiable.

At the same time, the survey reveals Britons’ growing cynicism towards the political process. Confidence in the political system is about 23% and in parliament just 36%. British confidence in the European Union fell from 47% to 26% between 1990 and 2000.

Britons are also less trusting of business. Confidence in big companies fell from 48% to 40% between 1990 and 2000.

The study brings gloomy news for British churches, showing that only 42% of those interviewed said they considered themselves “a religious person”. While 72% claim to believe in God, this is also one of the lowest proportions in the world, and only 33% believe the church offers answers to moral problems.

Dr Tom Wright, the Bishop of Durham, was not surprised by the figures. “We are right in the middle of post-modernity,” he said. “One of the features of that is a do-it-yourself culture with people exploring different parts of spirituality. There is a genuine confusion.”

However, Philip Pullman, the author, suggested Britain’s growing lack of interest in religion might help explain our tolerance. “The more religion you have, the less tolerant you are,” he said. “It sounds as if Britain is a healthy secular society.”

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