Pollsters have identified a key target constituency of Mr and Ms Angrys dissatisfied with life in Britain today.

Middle aged people between 35 and 55 now top the league of the nation's disillusioned and dissatisfied.

In prime working age the former rebels of the 70s and 80s are the new "grumpy generation".

They are not convinced that politicians of any hue can solve the country's problems.

Dubbed "Meldrews" - after a grouchy TV character - the discontented constituency have been identified by the MORI Social Research Institute.Neither new Labour's "excluded" or the new Tories "vulnerable", Britain's latest social group are a product of "rising dissatisfaction".

"There is rising dissatisfaction," said MORI SRI, director, Ben Page.

After the upsets and conflicts of the Thatcher years 35 to 55-year-olds are not happy with contemporary Britain.

"Things used to be more challenging and interesting when they were younger," said Page.

"A lot of them came of age in the 1980s and are the post-Thatcher generation. A lot of them are asking 'Was it worth it?'."

But the UK's new middle aged angry brigade do not fit a fogeyish or middle England stereotype, reveals the research.

"What's interesting about this group is that they seemed to be more rebellious when they were growing up."

"They witnessed social change in the 1970s and 80s. They are the age group who were most likely to see strikes and demonstrations as signs of a healthy social system," said Page.

"They're not staid, they're just disillusioned about a lot of things."

"Meldrews" are not convinced by the current generation of politicians - who all promise a break from the past.

Only five per cent believe government pledges to improve the NHS - less than a third of more optimistic under 34s and over 55s.