Bad manners are the biggest problem facing Britain, says study - and parents are to blame - News

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Spitting and swearing are most unpopular manifestations of this, along with not saying please or thank you, and pushing in.

Parents are largely to blame for the declining standards, according to the survey for a TV programme.

More than half of those questioned said poor manners were the biggest problem facing society. Just over two thirds said they were the cause of anti-social behaviour.

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Good manners are a thing of the past. According to a study, bad manners are one of the biggest problem facing our society

An even higher percentage, 86 per cent, agreed that Britons have become ruder over the last ten years. Ninety per cent of those questioned blamed the decline in standards on the example offered by parents.

Just under three quarters said manners should be taught as part of the school curriculum.

The survey was carried out for the ITV1 Tonight programme Bad Manners Britain.

Researchers also toured London with the British Transport Police and found many adults are just as impolite as the children most commonly blamed.

British Transport Police Sergeant Wendy Coad said: "I've had as many adults, if not more adults, be rude to me than school children."

The top ten examples of bad manners, in order of rudeness, according to the survey were: Spitting, swearing, queue jumping/pushing in, not saying please or thank you, playing loud music in a public space, belching in public, speaking loudly on a mobile phone, inconsiderate driving, not giving a seat up for a pregnant woman, and not holding the door for the person behind.

Bad Manners Britain: Tonight is on ITV1 at 8pm this evening.