70% of Britons support devolution for Scotland, poll suggests

Published on Friday 8 May 2009 11:19

A TOTAL of 70% of people believe devolution has been good for Scotland, a new poll suggested today.

The survey was carried out in England, Wales and Scotland to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the elections to the Scottish Parliament.

The Times newspaper survey found 70% of people north of the border and 70% in England and Wales thought devolution had been good for Scotland.

However more people in Scotland said devolution had been bad for the country than those south of the border – with 18% of Scots expressing this view, compared with 7% in England and Wales.

Populus surveyed 911 people in England and Wales and 500 people in Scotland between April 29 and May 3.

It found that 65% of people in Scotland and 73% in England and Wales believed relationships between the two countries have not changed since before devolution a decade ago.

But about a quarter of those asked in Scotland said they thought relationships are worse, compared with 14% in England.

And 31% of people in England and Wales said they believed Scotland receives too much money from the UK, compared with 3% in Scotland.

The survey also suggested that 52% of people south of the border supported the idea of only English MPs being allowed to vote on English matters in the House of Commons, while 41% backed the idea of an English Parliament.

About four in 10 people surveyed in Scotland said they wanted the Scottish Parliament to have increased powers, short of full independence.

That compares with 21% who said they supported Scottish independence, and about a quarter of those asked said the believed the Scottish Parliament has the right level of powers and should retain them. Just 8% believe Holyrood should have fewer powers than it does now.

Deputy First Minister and SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said the poll results are a "resounding endorsement of the success of the Scottish Parliament, and the improvements it has delivered to Scotland's economy and society".

And she added: "With two thirds of Scots wanting independence or more powers, it is clear that the people of Scotland want to keep moving forward – so that the Parliament has the ability to deliver more – and that is also very encouraging."