ITV News Index poll reveals half of under 35s surveyed don't know what the Magna Carta is

Judges admire the City of London's Magna Carta as it travels through London during the Lord Mayor's Show in 2014. Credit: PA Wire

An ITV Index poll has revealed that just half of 18-34 year-olds surveyed do not know what the Magna Carta is.

The poll comes as the four original copies of the Magna Carta come together for the first time under one roof. The document will be shown for a limited time at The British Library as part of its 800th anniversary.

More than 40,000 people entered a public ballot for the chance to see them with 1,215 winning the opportunity to visit the display. The documents will be at the library for three days before they are taken to the House of Lords for another day, before two are returned to the library and the others go back to their homes at Lincoln and Salisbury Cathedrals. Paul Davies reports.

ITV News research found that although basic awareness of the Magna Carta is widespread, detailed knowledge of it is not - just one in three of those surveyed could correctly identify that the Magna Carta sets out the rule of law and freedom from arbitrary arrest

  • 71% of those surveyed know that the Magna Carter is part of the British constitution

  • 51% of 18-34-year-olds know what the Magna Carter is

  • 67% know what the Magna Carter is, but do not know what it contains and which principles it sets out

  • 33% can correctly identify that the Magna Carta set outs the rule of law and the rights to freedom from arbitrary arrest

  • 24% say they do not know which principles its sets out, while other incorrectly suggest it contains principles such as freedom of speech or the holding of free and fair elections

The poll surveyed 2,040 people.

In a joint statement, the British Library, Lincoln Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral said they have been overwhelmed by the interest.