A rather attractive picture of the British emerges from the World Values Survey. They are found to be amongst the most tolerant of different backgrounds and alternative lifestyles, but far less ready to trust the state and its institutions.

The British are among those least concerned about the ethnic background of their neighbours, least likely to discriminate against gays, and more tolerant of casual sex and drug use. John Elliott goes through the figures in the Sunday Times.

With this laidback attitude to what others do comes a deep distrust of government. Only 23% have confidence in the political system, and only 36% in Parliament. Confidence in the EU is put at 26%. The British find it easier to accept their neighbours than their politicians.

Those more disposed to prefer conformity might hold that the figures reveal a lack of values in a nation which has lost its moral compass, but

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 image of the British as live-and-let-live types is more attractive to most people than that of drink-fuelled hooligans rampaging through foreign streets as well as their own. I hope it is true.