The greatest mistake in British history. You decide

It's taken days of number-crunching, nights of scientific analysis and the objective advice of a panel of experts. But Comment Central has finally shortlisted ten of the greatest mistakes in British history.

Now it's over to you. Here are the contenders. Which do you think did the greatest harm to our island nation?  Voting will close at midnight on Monday 18 February.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Comments

[Ben]

There are few actions which have no positive results or allow progress.
To work through the options:
Some colonies were carved up cleanly, others are stronger as a single entity (although of course there were errors)
Australia is hot and full of spiders
Cromwell was a dictator
We saved much of Europe in WW1
The C of E was a step towards progress compared to Catholicism
Why?
What is wrong with letting colonies declare independence?
Ok, but we weren't to know
Everyone does
Britain is stronger as a whole

May I suggest instead the Suez crisis.

[LiberalHammer]

Perhaps controversial but what about getting involved in WW2 (this line of argument was mentioned in Yes Prime Minister)? Britain was practically bankrupted and in hoc to the Americans. Nazi Germany may have been defeated but eastern europe was left under a totalitarian regime for the next 45 years. Just a thought.

[Andreas Andreou]

The Imperialist policy of the UK was by far its worse mistake.

The country with the motto ''divide and rule'' implemented when governing its colonies was a crime against humanity because racially mixed societies were split and enstranged. This eventually led to racial hatred and division within the colonies. Is it simply by chance that most former British colonies went through severe turmoil once the British left? Aborigines in Australia, Palestine, Cyprus, Apartheid in South Africa, the USA, India and Pakistan and most recently Kenya.

All these and along with the take over of colonies eventually led to a severe loss of human life which can be compared to the Holocaust.

[slinkybender]

It all went bad with the Normans. Had we kept them out, we'd be fine today.

[Jon]

What? No option for women's suffrage? An outrage, I tells ya!

[Weejonnie]

Can't we add - the re-election of the Labour Party in 2005?

[David Moon]

Always be wary of 'experts' - a combination of 'ex'= has-been and 'spurt'= a drip under pressure.
I think you will find if you look at the readers comments to news stories on other pages in The Times (and other papers)on most days of the week that the TWO biggest mistakes in British history have been;-
1. Allowing mass uncontrolled immigration.
2. Joining the European Economic Community (now European Union)

[Cyril Berkeley]

Had Britain not got involved in WW1, I believe there would have been no need for appeasing Hitler: he would almost certainly have remained an obscure, failed painter, and in any event, if we had not squandered resouces on WW1 we would have been unafraid of any country. Yet as I write twice as many people cite 'appeasement' as a greater mistake than do those citing WW1. Does that majority therefore all believe that WW1 was absolutely necessary?

[Rod Polisher]

The glaringly obvious omission is..."Joining and continuing to stay in the EU(SSR)!"

[Proud Anglo-Saxon]

Getting involved in WW1 was a tragic error which destroyed a lot of British wealth and power and ultimately caused the loss of the Empire!

[Sandy]

George 111 the useless and the loss of the American colonies meant that Britain lost forever the chance to rule America too, which wouldmade it an invincible empire!

[William]

I have voted for "Getting involved in World War one". Had we not done so, I do not believe Hitler would ever have risen to power to become a problem.

[Faustino]

I voted for 10 (WWI) rather than 9 (appeasing Hitler) because of its broad and devastating effects on Britain (loss of a male generation) and elsewhere, including setting up the conditions from which Hitler arose.

[IAN PAYNE]

The introduction of the C of E dumbed down religion in the UK and ACTUALLY made this island nation less religous, rather than more. If we had kept the Catholic standard flying here I am sure people would have followed the word of God more seriously !!!!

[gerry]

The (now abused) Welfare State.

[Nick Moore]

Britian's biggest mistake was joining the EEC/EU/Common Market. I'm frankly amazed it's not one of the options.

[Eric]

How very PC,(pusillanimous & craven), to omit the obvious answer, that of tossing away the nation's identity in a misguided attempt at social engineering.

[Stephen Pain]

Not listening to Jamie Oliver's advice about healthy eating.

[Lee Nichols]

Voting in New Labour and not standing up to the Labour Party in forcing Gordon Brown upon us!

[Mike Elliott]

Failing to hold reign over Canada - one of the largest countries of the world and a huge stake in the progressive North American continent - was the biggest mistake a ruling European island colony could have ever make.

[solari]

britians numer one failed historical mistake? Not having adopted a sound nationl dental plan...

[John]

I am surprised that you did not put joining the Common Market (E.E.C) as one of the options.

[John]

As a small island nation with stretched resources entering WWII, the government chose to recruit fit individuals from its colonies to staff certain civil positions (subways, buses, etc.). Later, these individuals were entitled to bring their families to the UK. This policy, perhaps more than any other, changed forever the character of the island.

[Tim]

You seem to have made so many big mistakes, it's a wonder you can be so conceited.
British values. Yes, making mistakes seems to be the main British value.

[Will Rhodes]

The worst mistake was bringing Thatcher into government, and again, and again.

[T.Zhang]

As a Chinese who stay in UK, I have good impression of it. The greatest mistake is that it attacked China in 1840 and than with French, Italian burned the Yuanmingyuan in Beijing.More over it export opium into China, it killed my people.

[Ken]

The entente cordiale - snuggling up to the frogs after a thousand years. EC leads to British entry into WW I and decline of Empire. WW I and the vindictive and moronic frog response to the Franco Prussian War = Treaty of Versailles, leads to WW II. WW II leads to fall of Empire and the rise of the superpowers. A pity for both Britain and the world. Without Britain in WW I, the frogs would have crumbled and Paris fallen in 1914 and the Kaiser would have extracted concessions from the frogs.

[charlie]

With regard to entering WW1, a mistake is only a mistake when there was a better course of action available. Britain did its best to avoid WW1 but given German aggression the only other option was to betray our allies and watch France lose. We would then have faced an empowered Germany for round two in 1916/7 - only this time without allies. Britain had no option, morally or practically, but to enter WW1. It was a regrettable necessity. However, given the immense difficulties, winning it was certainly our greatest achievement.

[Ken Leyland]

Why bother - they never get posted.

[William]

You have my comments posted under the name "Sandy" and Sandy's under my name. We have expressed the same choice, for the same reasons, so I guess it does not matter too much.

[Doreen]

Can't the selection process be restarted, and this time include THE biggest mistake in Britain's entire history - ie our membership of the communist organisation known today as the European Union!
(Soon to be called simply a country called Europe, with England divided into 9 regions, and the name England erased entirely from history!)
It was a major mistake not to include this in your list. I'm sure most people would have voted for it.

[Steve]

What about our failure to eliminate Marx when we had the chance? I grant that would have led to a greater and earlier surplus of worldwide population.

[Ben]

Without a shadow of a doubt, the UK's greatest mistake was non-white immigration to the UK since 1945.

This will be looked back on in history as a devastating decision and, unlike most of the other options, not easily reversed or repaired.

[Andy]

Never mind the Normans.It all went tits up with the Saxons, Angles and Vikings.........

[Jamie aged 15]

If latin was in the curriculum in schools today, then pupils would have a deep knowledge of english. This would prevent the slang that seems to be used in schools,or at least enable pupils to speak better.

[David]

Sorry, the most glaring and obvious mistake we have ever made (and continue to do so) is joining the EEC.

Please explain why this option was not on the list...I believe it would certainly have had the most votes? Or, is it simply just a case that we are not allowed to speak out against this totalitarian regime.

[Harry Osbourne]

Greatest mistake...where does one start! Possibly the rot really started with the introduction of photographs on the front page of the Times.

[Tapestry]

If WW1 was a mistake, then why are we (the EU) starting WW3 in Kosovo?

The EU was Britain's number 1 mistake.

[Garth Strong]

TO: Mr. Andreas Andreou:

While far from perfect or benign, I firmly believe that the Imperialist policies of the United Kingdom were of net benefit to the World and to the former colonies. You point out that racial hatred and divisions led to war and bloodshed in many instances after British rule ended, however it is a fact that there was
war and racial hatred in many of the same countries for hundreds of years BEFORE the British arrived!

The PAX BRITANICA that colonialism produced provided a relatively peaceful interlude that lasted hundreds of years in some notable cases. Other benefits included vast improvements in education AT ALL LEVELS, scientific development, health care, economic development, agriculture, improved government and civil services and the establishment of the Rule of Law and recognitions of human rights. That several former colonies have dissolved into havens of anarchy, lawlessness and murder, after independence, is NOT Britain's fault: Those countries demanded "FREEDOM" from "BRITISH COLONIALIST IMPERIALISM AND OPRESSION": FREEDOM TO CHART THEIR OWN COURSES, DESTINIES AND FUTURES....and, by god..THEY GOT IT!!!

[Gwenda Blackwell]

The biggest mistake any country or person can make is to be believe that they do not make mistakes.

"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ to consider that you may be wrong" - James I.

[G K Kumar, India]

The biggest mistake in British history was allowing all and sundry into the country and allowing them to stay there on their own terms.

[JOEY]

The biggest mistake the UK and Europe will ever make is letting so many Muslims into the continent.

[Anthony Pick]

Comprehensive education. Fine grammar schools were destroyed, and the direct grant schools were driven out of the state system. Comprehensive schools are too large, and their students do not receive adequate personal attention. The intended objectives of comprehensivation have not been achieved. The resources should have been assigned to increasing the standard of secondary modern schools, and other means of dealing with the 11-plus problem should have been adopted.

[Spanky]

Banning corporal punishment from schools - has to be THE biggest mistake made in the 1970s.

[Martin]

You've missed the biggest mistake: failure to establish a constitution protecting the individual from the state. We're certainly suffering from the consequences of that mistake - and now it's too late as the state is totally dominant and won't allow it.

[matt]

every time we invent something worthy we give it to the bloody American's and in return for what?

[A.J.M.]

1. Joining the EEC

2. The creation (or, subsequent expansion) of the welfare state

3. In hindsight, appeasement of Hitler was the worst mistake on this list (although it's very easy to judge looking back on it...)

4. The disastrous job we (and I mean all of the European colonising nations) made of carving up an independent Africa (the other British colonies weren't done so badly, AFAIK).

[Roger Bower]

Multiracialism. Without a doubt the worst thing in our entire history.

[michael]

There were many mistakes in the last half of the 20th century - Suez, the welfare state (or what it became), not dealing with the unions sooner, joining the EEC/EU, multiculturalism.

But THE stupidest mistake in my mind was devolution.

As a true Scot and Brit, it's embarrassing to have a devious, opportunistic, separatist first minister, the ghastliest looking "parliament" and a chamber of left-wingers of truly woeful quality representing us.

Devolution should be confined to history - and the whines of the majority in favour up here ignored.

And I long for the day when someone has the guts to do it.

[T.J. Cassidy]

What's the worst thing Britain hasn't done?

[Bob Martin]

Reading the responses so far all I can say is what a bunch of racist, bigoted xenophobes the British are.

[Tom]

Britain does not necerssarily make mistakes, there are pros and cons to all decisions. what is does do is create idiots. I read on the comments that comprehensiavisation was a bad idea because Grammar Schools were good, yes they were, but secondary moderns were a disgrace; and they are now gone. We now have a better chance for all.

i read that the welfare state was bad. I dont have time to look at the countless benefits. instead it would be wiser to just see the holders of such views, as uneducated in social studies and relying on rightinwg rhetoric, which boils downs to 'why should i give a crap about anybody but myself'. so selfish gits really.

On the EU, again i am annoyed. I can see some problems in rising food prices in the shorterm. But in the longterm there are ocuntless benefits. It must be easy for people to dismiss whole movements that have preserved peace, ensured prosperity, development, and could play a key role in our future. It must be easy on the basis of a parochial, punitive understanding of the world.

[Tom Gray]

How could the Suez crisis not be in the list! I can think of a positive for all of the 'mistakes' listed, there was no positive outcome from suez

[Mike M]

As charlie puts so well, WW1 was little or no choice for Britian, appeasing Hitler was the biggest mistake, ignore all the other racists and europhobes who want rediculous options posting. ;)

[jasper]

Daniel,
What were your selection criteria ?

Looks to me like you bottled out from asking those questions the politicians won't ask us.

[Mrs Jackie Chown]

Letting in Labour and joining the EU has been the all time biggest mistake for this country without a doubt.

[liljon]

Get real

[M R BARRINGTON]

1. Immigration
2. Comprehensive schools
3. Post-war employment law
4. Incapacity benefit for workshy
5. Flats for teenage mothers
6. PC grip on teachers and police
7. Heathrow (suitable note on which to say 'Goodbye England.')

[Pete]

The biggest mistake in British history was surely the invasion of Ireland, followed by colonisation and warfare in Ireland over the centuries, culminating in the failure to allow Home Rule in the 19th century. This damaged our reputation in Europe and the USA and led directly to IRA terrorism. What did we gain in return?

[guy bird]

Britians benefitted from the colonies for 100 of yrs. The benefittes out- waied the consequences of the carving up of the colonies. Some of Britians closses allies are countries that where once British colonies. Mistakes are only disatrous when they are left unfixed. Thank god for the british because without them and the united states(and other countries) the FRENCH would be a colony made up of roude people. The only mistake made by the British gov't is the same mistake made by the USA saving FRANCE!!! in Two World Wars. I a proud American that would like to thank King George III. I would also like to thank all other British Men and Women that have help to preserve Democercy. Politics are about power/money not about fixing mistakes, people fix mistakes. Democercy is about people and without people that believe freedom is a god given right WWI and WWII would have never happened. Great men come from great countries and only great countries last. Thought(NAZI GERMANY/USSR) are not on updated world maps.

[ian]

The Atlantic slave trade. How different the world would be if we hadnt done that.

[Ted]

Henry VIII's break with Rome was Britain's greatest mistake. So much that is bad in our history and our national character is due to the heresies that spawned from the severance from the true Church of our forefathers.

[Steve from Aust]

The biggest mistakes that I have observed, in recent times at least, have been allowing the UK industrial base to collapse, and allowing all of your best remaining companies to fall into the hands of overseas investors. You have flogged off the family silver for short term gain. The only people doing well out of this are the fund managers and the speculators in the City.

[Richard Lancaster]

Joining the EEC.

[Joanna A.]

As an American I can tell you that your muslim appeasment all over Europe will be our problem someday. Huge mistake for western society.

[RW]

Britain's greatest mistake was joining the EU. And then voting New Labour in.

Allowing muslims to become citizens and permanent residents is probably the biggest mistake Britain has ever made or will make.

[David Lea-Smith]

Mistakes are generally made by individuals rather than nations. For example, Chamberlain and his lackeys were in large part responsible for allowing Hitler to take Central Europe. Britain should instead take pride in its numerous achievements, which I believe is due to that greatest of British values, the stressing of individual rights. Britain is after all the founder of modern democracy, the industrial revolution, the birthplace of numerous scientific and technological advances and great cultural achievements. If I had to classify Britains greatest mistake, it would be the failure of British people to be proud of this country's culture and numerous achievements. Great Britain has done more for the world than most. The 'Great' is there for a reason.

[dave spear]

None of the above can compare with the devastation wrought upon the UK by Blair and his heir Brown. They have managed to do to the UK what 2 world wars couldn't - surrender of all our rights and privileges, ruination of British Culture and apologists for our history and Christian heritage

[G.Page]

Without a doubt Immigration and failed multiculturalism resulting in the erosion of traditional British society. They should have listened to Enoch Powell.

[Garth Strong]

It is, I believe, of critical/paramount importance to
consider Britain's mistakes in two categories: A) Mistakes of the historical past, about which virtually nothing can be done today, and: B) Mistakes of the present as noted by many writers above, primarily resulting from bad government, which if not urgently addressed threaten the cultural, national, military and economic survival of a Great Nation that has been the bedrock of Western values, culture and identity.

It is, of course, far easier to rally the Nation to respond to a foreign military threat, as occured during WWII, where widespred fire, death and bloodshed were immediately evident. However, again as noted by several writers above, the internal dangers faced by Britain today, to its security, economy and national identity, are no less serious than those which Britain faced in WWII.

It is time for responsible, patriotic and concerned British people to bestir themselves to say: "Enough! Enough of the damned nonsense!"

[Chris]

Restoration of the mnonachy in 1660 a British mistake? More like a Times mistake - Greta Britain wasn't even formed until 1707.
As ever, and much to my own embarrasment, many of my fellow countrymen wrongly assume that England and Britain are, and always were, one and the same thinbg.

[Anna Charlton]

Appeasing Hitler bought us time to increase our military capabilities. Many historians think now that even if Chamberlain didn't do us a favour on purpose it was the best course of action. Germany had been arming itself for over a year whilst we did nothing about it. We needed time and the appeasement gave us that.

[Phil]

To all the racist bigots who have suggested "non white immigration", "muslim appeasement" or "multiracialism", just one question: why?

I honestly can't think of a negative consequence of postwar immigration- and to suggest it was 'worse' than WW1 or Hitler is just ridiculous.

[Adam Hardy]

There seem to be people posting comments here who have big problems with immigration. The arguments against immigration have always been weak.

The EU is a good one though. Huge amount to argue about there.

However I voted for bringing back the monarchy as our biggest mistake. Off with their heads!

[MD]

England's greatest mistake is much more recent. That is, not having control of the numbers of immigrants. Immigrants are a vital part of progress for all nations of this world but............immigration must be controlled!! England is a small nation and cannot solve all the problems of the world.

[Buchi]

Colonialism (Divide-and-rule + the colonies) is still the curse of Africa & South America as well the native Australians. The continents lost the chance to mature socially and nurture its many tribes, languages and cultures. Our loss will was invaluable.

[Shinra]

Where's allowing "Big Brother" to be produced?

I dunno who it insults more, the public or Orwell.

Oh well, Bread and Circuses I suppose.

[JK]

Fighting two World Wars only to allow our country to be invaded by mass immigration these past 60 years. My grandparents' generation never felt the need to 'redefine' their national identity.

[P Hodgson]

Joining the EU(SSR)

[Niall Orr, Sydney]

1. The Ulster Plantation - led to Protestant and Catholic sectarianism and the partition of Ireland.

2. The Battle of Gallipoli - Winston Churchill commissioning the plans to invade the Dardanelles.

3. The loss of the Thirteen Colonies in the Americas.

4. Decolonisation of the British Empire.

[Olaf]

How about being the first nation to start CONCENTRATION CAMPS?
During the Scorch Earth Policy of the British in the Anglo-Boer war (1899-1902) thousands of woman and children died while being locked up in the most inhumane circumstances. While farms were burned down and livestock simply exterminated. And why all this? Because of greed. The British simply wanted to assimilate the Transvaal and Orange Free State Republics (nations founded by people fleeing British oppression in the Cape) for their newly discovered gold and diamonds. During this war the British committed atrocities equal to that of the Nazi’s of World War II but as the ultimate victors simply choose to forget this absolute low point of their history.

[Ellen]

The recent and current immigration policy of the government. Each time I return to Britain I find the culture increasingly different and more alien that on the previous visit.

And the heavy political correctness that does not allow public dissent from the given position.

[Majorie]

Like many others your failure to show being a member of the EU negates the validity of this poll.
For me it has been our most disasterous mistake.
Then again I would have added the impact of mass illegal immigration as well.

[Chris Fry]

Magaret Thatcher

[Louis Thomson]

Given the leading nature of the question - "Which do you think did the greatest harm to our island nation?" - it seems clear that the biggest mistake of those of us from these islands was, is, and continues to be seeing ourselves not as human but as as British. Or, more probably, some substratum thereof - the recent wise comments of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland may be generalised to many puerile stand-offs beyond the one that gained the headlines.

Decisions are taken with imperfect information: rather than "mistakes", we should perhaps focus on "regrets". The failure to engage with our neighbours in the rest of Europe in the ten years following the Second World War - a mix of giving, sharing and accepting leadership - diminished so many people in these islands, across the rest of Europe and beyond. The continuing witless insularity shows that we have learned nothing in sixty years, under any governmental flag, in advancing co-operation.

[Micky]

the greatest English mistake was Harold not waiting for reinforcements before the Battle of Hastings. Just imagine, we'd have an anglo-saxon king, a parliament (witan) without scots, no class system, a language with far fewer French words....etc.etc

[F.Roseman]

The move to the pretense of 'Cradle to the grave' welfarisim and nationalisation immediately after WW2 handed a country filled with relatively disciplined, hard-working people over to a introverted Bureaucracy that proceeded to destroy the very culture that had given Britain its success. Instead of using a system that encouraged individual effort and self-reliance and taking the lead and dominating Europe their inward-looking incompetant exploitative approach converted Britain into a second-class power. They destroyed our culture, our industry and our future for the sake of their own short-term benefit.

[James Gordon]

The second of Britain's biggest mistakes was to elect a Labour government after WWII. Rather than concentrate on rebuilding industry to create national wealth they made a feel good housing policy their priority.

[Hans]

'It has always been clear, ever since we committed our biggest political mistake for 200 years by refusing to be one of the founder- members of the Common Market, that we should have to pay the a price to get in, and the price is very much lower than I expected it to be. But, in any case, you do haggle over the subscription when you are invited to climb into a lifeboat. You scramble aboard while there is still a seat for you.' Lord Crowther, House of Lords 27 July 1971

[Stuart]

Thatcher, Blair, and the Second Iraq war. Not to mention our government`s unquestioning support of United States foreign policy in general. Heaven only knows what pathetic excuses G. Brown will trot out then the neo-cons bomb Iran...

[John, Sussex]

Biggest mistake was Harold rushing down from Stamford Bridge after defeating the Vikings to face the Normans without a rest, regrouping and reinforcements, and failing to select the right position to defend. Should have halted in the high weald and let the Normans come to him.

[Paul Wainwright]

I believe it was allowing geniuses like me emigrate to Australia all those years ago for just 10 pounds without asking us to re-pay the cost of our education etc. Suckers!

[Krish]

Some people have commented that allowing immigration workers in to the UK was biggest mistake. What about british employees working elsewhere in the world?

[Richard Fielding]

Er, why isn't "Electing Margaret Thatcher, and following her, allowing John Major, and then electing Tony Blair, to run the damn country, on the list of greatest mistakes?

[Don Hoyle]

Obviously joining Europe was the great error of modern times; staying in compounds the error.

Voting in a Labour government after the war was the greatest political error of recent history (rather than voting in NuLab under the Blair).

Breaking with Rome proved to be a benefit to the country that freed us from the shackles of religion (cf Spain's foreign policy, for instance).

[Simon Moss]

Britain's biggest mistake? Resisting annexation by Napoleon in 1805.

[MS]

Why is Israel not an option on that list? Probably the biggest botch up ever made with the worst of the consequences likely still to come...

[Mike]

Massive uncontrolled immigration, but of course it's not on the list because our thoughts are not free these days.

[Iain]

Britain’s worst mistake?

Obviously the decision that leads to the end of the British state, in other words joining the EEC and our politicians conniving in its expansion to become the EU, which will mean the British states destruction and our politicians writing their own redundancy notices.