Brits are officially becoming ruder — but here’s what’s really going on

Are we too busy to be polite? (Picture: Getty Images)

Good manners are a quintessentially British trait.

From the polite refusal of almost everything to saying ‘sorry’ even when you’re not in the wrong, our culture is known for courtesy and etiquette — to the point queuing is basically a national pastime.

But over the past decade or two, there’s a growing sense that the country is no longer as polite as it once was.

While every generation has its own ‘kids these days’ gripes, and moaning about the state of society is nothing new, figures back up the argument we’re in the midst of a respect recession.

In a 202...