Ross Clark Ross Clark

Has Brexit really made us all happier?

Apparently we’re all getting a little happier – if a little more anxious. The government’s official happiness index shows that we rate our overall life satisfaction at an average of 7.7 out of 10. We think our lives are 7.9 out of 10 worthwhile. We rate our happiness yesterday at 7.5 out of 10 and our anxiety rating at 2.9 out of 10 – a slight rise on early 2015 when national anxiety reached a low but still much less than when the index started in 2011. 

Does it mean anything though? The Guardian seems to think so, publishing a story today which appears to hint that people in England are happier because they voted for Brexit and got it, while people in Scotland and Northern Ireland have failed to become happier, having seen their wishes of staying in the EU thwarted.

Do leave it out.

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