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The Government's national consultation on Britishness has been criticised by the Tories as a "colossal waste of money" as they claimed it had been widely snubbed.
The Conservative Party said regional events designed to promote national cohesion and discuss the prospect of a British bill of rights had been attended by as few as 10 people.
The concept was one of the first initiatives announced by Gordon Brown soon after he became Prime Minister in 2007 as he sought to put his own stamp on the constitution.
But the Tories claimed that only 10 members of the public had attended the first Governance of Britain session in Leicester, which cost £37,000. They said councillors had turned up less frequently with each subsequent event and that ministers had become embarrassed about being associated with them.
Eleanor Laing, the shadow justice minister, said: "Since 2007 we have had gimmick after gimmick on what it means to be British. Now, the public has spoken: Gordon Brown's Britishness roadshow is a colossal waste of money. With the public finances in a mess, any plans for an even bigger nationwide non-event should be scrapped now."
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But Labour insisted the events had been a success, with a majority of people backing the idea of a statement of values and a bill of rights and responsibilities. The results of the consultation are to be released in the New Year, officials said.
The total bill for the roadshow was expected to be less than £1 million, while 457 of the 500 people invited to the first five events had attended. Of the 240 invited to return for the reconvened events, 225 had done so, officials said.
Justice minister Michael Wills said: "It is sad that the Conservative Party which used to present itself as a party of national cohesion is now so contemptuous of it just when it is so needed.
"And it is even sadder that they believe they have all the answers and are so contemptuous of listening to the British people about such an important issue. Now more than ever, politicians should show humility about the issues that matter to the British people.
"The Tories were invited to take part and refused - it's disappointing that they have such little regard for what it means to be British and the importance of this identity in a challenging world. Instead they prefer to use this important issue for a cynical press release at Christmas."
