43pc of Brits now 'social gazumpers' who change plans at last minute

London, Mar 21 (ANI): Millions of Britons have become "social gazumpers" who would quickly ditch their old engagements for new and better options, a survey has suggested.

Forty-three per cent of those who responded to the survey by website lastminute.com admitted cancelling on a friend, family member or workmate for another social engagement, the Daily Mail reported.

It was also found that 65 per cent of those who cancel at the last minute lie about their new plans to get out of a previous arrangement.

Those most likely to honour dates in their diary live in the Midlands, where only 40 per cent admitted cancelling at the last minute, and Wales, where the figure was 33 per cent.

However, it appears that people in the Midlands are also most likely to lie about the reason for changing their plans.

74 per cent of respondents there admitted being "socialiars" compared with 61 per cent in the South.

Of the 2,000 Britons surveyed, 36 per cent admitted to cancelling their plans last minute so they could have a night in. A further 22 per cent confessed to changing social engagements for a family event.

While 15 per cent have quickly swapped plans for birthday drinks instead, another 15 per cent simply dumped one friend to spend the evening with a closer pal.

A holiday was the reason given by 13 per cent to explain why they changed their plans, and one in ten admitted to cancelling on people so they could attend a last minute gig.

Work colleagues are most likely to be ditched in favour of a better offer, with 38 per cent of respondents admitting they have done this. 23 per cent of those surveyed confessed to abandoning family members - the most likely reason being a date.

Based on the findings, it seems the British are trying to squeeze more into their social lives: 14 per cent admit being 'serial socialisers' who cram two or three events into one night. Sixteen per cent say they prefer to leave weekend social arrangements until the last minute. (ANI)