I live in the UK and have been through the rigmarole of trying to be prescribed benzodiazepines. I've had them prescribed in the past, but never long term.
Only in certain cases will they prescribe benzos long term and these days that's getting very rare. The most they will prescribe them is up to four weeks due to potential addiction/withdrawal. In most cases they will only prescribe them for a fortnight, if that. Most GP/Psychs see little point in prescribing a benzodiazepine to someone with long term anxiety and GPs feel very uncomfortable prescribing benzodiazepines without previous advise from a Psychiatrist full stop. It may give temporary rest bite, but it does little in rectifying the situation in the long term. Hence why they prescribe more long term medication with little withdrawal/abuse potential.
Most of times they will prescribe benzodiazepines, is in a mental health crisis kind of situations, where you would be bordering between needing to be admitted to a Psychiatric unit or not and are in severe discomfort. For severe cases of sleep disturbances/insomnia, where z drugs haven't really worked. An for certain situations in the very short term for people who suffer anxiety. ie. dental appointments, flying.... an episode of severe panic attacks etc...things like that. An you would have to show a certain level of distress for them to deem it for to do so.
Originally yes, benzodiazepines were prescribed for anxiety and they were prescribed freely. Though benzodiazepine withdrawal is on par with opiate withdrawal and can get pretty nasty. Plus over time they lose there effectiveness. So essentially you end up taking a drug which is damaging your system, you're addicted too and will cause nasty withdrawals when ceased and no longer works.
So really, no, even though beznodiazepines may of originally been prescribed long term, it's no longer the case in the UK at least and you'd be lucky if they did.