Cold, rainy and arrogant: how American students see modern Britain

It is a distant, rainy land, inhabited by stuffy tea drinkers who whip their children and idolise the hockey player David Beckham. Welcome to Britain in the 21st century - at least in the eyes of young Americans.

It is a distant, rainy land, inhabited by stuffy tea drinkers who whip their children and idolise the hockey player David Beckham. Welcome to Britain in the 21st century - at least in the eyes of young Americans.

A study published yesterday revealed that thousands of black, Asian and Hispanic Americans subscribe to what might be described as an alarming caricature of Britain. Many believe the UK plays only a minor role in international relations and that the British are unsporty and arrogant. And at least two-thirds of the students, all from ethnic minority backgrounds, felt unable to describe the UK as a diverse land.

When asked about school discipline, one respondent said: "They're strict, wielding punishment other than detention. Do they whip kids?" Offering an opinion on the British character, another said: "They talk really proper. You get a sense of arrogance. Everything's 'bloody this', 'bloody that'."

The British Council commissioned the study, entitled Pale People in the Rain, to examine perceptions of Britain by America's students. It was based on research among the Hispanic, African-American and Asian-American populations at 4,000 high schools and college pupils in Texas, California, Massachusetts and Virginia.

Their views are likely to surprise British politicians hopeful of forging academic and diplomatic links. "The UK/US special relationship will have to be worked at," said Sir David Green, director general of the British Council. "Unless the UK's profile in the US is raised, future generations of leaders are more likely to look across the Pacific than the Atlantic for education and employment opportunities."

Nearly two-thirds of the pupils questioned said Britain's cold weather and perpetual rain meant they would never want to live there. None of those questioned was able to name a British scientist or technological achievement. And while some were unable to name any British sports stars, others identified David Beckham as a leading figure in hockey, baseball or golf.