Claim 0404ae91Checked 09 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“1960s and ’70s England was very different from now.”
Reasoning & Evidence09 Jul 2026
The claim is true in the ordinary historical sense. The Bank of England notes that before 15 February 1971 the UK used the pre-decimal £sd system, so everyday money and shopping were materially different from today. ONS also shows major social change since the 1960s and 1970s, including the average age at first child rising from around 24 then to around 29 now, far fewer teenage births, and much lower marriage rates. ONS further records major local-government restructuring since the 1960s, including the 1974 reorganisation in England and Wales. Sources: Bank of England, "Pre-decimal currency converter"; Office for National Statistics, "Our population – Where are we? How did we get here? Where are we going?"; Office for National Statistics, "Local government restructuring".
From article
Though you recall that you fell in love with Portugal at a very young age and for many years were more interested in ‘abroad’ than in Britain.
Well, there’s no contradiction in that. Remember that 1960s and ’70s England was very different to now, wasn’t it? I remember going to France when I was 13 or 14 and somebody putting a bottle of Perrier on the table. Fizzy water? We didn’t do things like that. So, I think you can like and celebrate differences between peoples whilst understanding what you are yourself. Differences are wonderful. All my life I’ve been fascinated by people of different countries, people of different classes. You know, I like people. I’m a naturally pretty gregarious sort of person.
Sources opened+ 34 search hits considered
| [1] | media.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
| [2] | bankofengland.co.uk |