A study found 46 per cent of the UK would happily vote for Roman rule instead of today's political parties. At the heart of this is the belief that we'd be better off, healthier and happier if policies and laws from over 2,000 years ago were implemented now. 

In the research, 2,000 Brits were shown a series of ancient political policies secretly based on those from Roman emperors, including Julius Caesar. And many of these found favour.

Popular policies included doubling the number of public holidays (57 per cent) and free entry to national sporting events (56 per cent). 

Other promises from the ancient past that struck a chord with Brits were banning cars from cities on a weekend (76 per cent) and encouraging immigrants who embrace the local culture (57 per cent).

The abolition of income tax, which Roman Emperor Nero enforced, was supported by 44 per cent of Brits. This would save the average UK worker 3,444.80 pounds.

Other Roman policies favoured by modern Brits include a free water supply (66 per cent), which would typically save 388 pounds.

Meanwhile subsidised male shaving, which 25 per cent of us would vote for, could save chaps up to 104.59 pounds per year.

It can be argued that these policies would help make the average family of four 7,770 pounds richer each year.

As well as believing they would be richer, those questioned by the research commissioned by PC Strategy game 'Total War: Rome II' claimed they would be happier living under Roman rule.

A third of those polled (37 per cent) thought the ancient manifesto had been drafted by a leading political party in 2013. Even after the electorate was told the manifesto was a mash-up of old Roman policies, 71 per cent said it was "superior" to those offered today.

A quarter (24 per cent) support time limits of marriage engagements, and a third (30 per cent) believe women should no longer be incarcerated.

Augustus' pledge to increase Neighbourhood Watch was also popular (71 per cent).

However, the research indicates that not all Roman policies would sit well with modern audiences. No age restriction on the consumption of alcohol (5 per cent) and government horses being given special roles in parliament (10 per cent) were among the least favoured.

Historian Julian Richards said: "The fact so many Brits would vote for 2,000 year old political policies from ancient Rome says a lot about modern politics. "It shows there's a heck of a lot of disillusionment, disengagement and general apathy towards it."