Anti-Scottish feeling laid bare over question of next Prime Minister

Published on Monday 16 October 2006 00:44

Key quote "I think people should ... will judge politicians on what they say, what they do. I think the British public are pretty good at working out who does what, who says what." - David Cameron

Story in full GORDON Brown is facing a vociferous English backlash in his bid to become Prime Minister, according to a poll published today.

The ICM survey reveals a majority of English voters believe the Labour Party would be less appealing with a Scottish leader.

The Chancellor has worked hard over the past year to project himself as a British, not a Scottish, politician, stressing his commitment to the Union and his pride in being British.

But he is seen by the public as a Scottish MP who wants to become Prime Minister and, after the devolution settlement and the problems that has caused in England, this has led to resentment.

The poll, for the More 4 show Starkey's Last Word, provides the first real evidence of just how strong anti-Scottish feelings are in England.

A total of 59 per cent of English voters said they would be "influenced" at the next election by the presence of a Scottish Labour leader.

Of these, an overwhelming 93 per cent said they would be influenced in a negative way, and only 7 per cent said the influence would be positive.

The anti-Scottish feeling was even more pronounced among older people. Of the English pensioners who would be influenced by a Scottish Labour leader, 97 per cent said that influence would be negative.

Mr Brown is well aware that he cannot afford to lose the votes of any wavering voters in England. Of the 75 Labour marginal seats - defined as those where the party's majority is less than 10 per cent - 71 are in England.

The backlash has been caused, in part, by what is seen as the unfairness of the devolution settlement, which allows Scottish MPs to play their part in imposing domestic policies on England that are not imposed on their own constituents.

This so-called West Lothian Question, and the perception that Scotland does better financially than England, have caused resentment.

But it is not only Mr Brown who would suffer from the anti-Scottish backlash. John Reid, the Home Secretary, has been named as a potential contender for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair retires. As a Scot and a Lanarkshire MP, he would have the same problem as Mr Brown.

A spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party played down the importance of the poll: "The next election will be decided on policies, not personalities. Voters will decide who is best for the NHS, schools, the economy and tough action on crime."

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, insisted that voters should not judge Mr Brown on his Scottishness. Speaking on BBC One's Politics Show, he said: "I think people should ... will judge politicians on what they say, what they do. I think the British public are pretty good at working out who does what, who says what.

"That's what they should do with Gordon Brown and that's what they should do with me."