Grey vote key in deciding outcome of independence
Senior citizens' ballots could be decisive in the independence referendum. Picture: Getty
The “grey vote” might swing the result of the Scottish independence referendum in favour of staying in the United Kingdom, a poll suggests.
The survey of almost 11,000 people aged over 50 in Britain put support for the Union at 48 per cent while 25 per cent backed independence and 27 per cent were either yet to make up their mind or did not know.
A Scottish sample of almost 800 people showed 36 per cent for independence but 56 per cent for the Union. Across English regions, 28 per cent approved of independence while 48% backed the Union.
The results were published on the day Prime Minister David Cameron travelled to Edinburgh to make a speech defending the Union.
Paul Green, a spokesman for Saga, said older people are more likely to vote and appear more attached to the three-centuries old political union of Scotland and England.
He said: “Something similar seems to be going on - an age effect of more attachment to the Union.
“So, while the Scots are more in favour of independence than the English in the over 50s age range, we have got more positively disapproving too.
“The Scots seem more polarised on this issue. There are relatively fewer fence sitters. In fact, the grey vote may decide it.”
First Minister Alex Salmond wants to extend the franchise of the referendum in 2014 to 16 and 17-year-olds.
The Saga Populus poll covered 10,864 Saga customers between 25 January and 1 February, asking to what extent they approve or disapprove of Scotland becoming independent.
The most opposition to independence came among the older age ranges.
Support for the Union rose from 36 per cent of people aged 50-54 to 62 per cent of people aged over 75.
Just 12 per cent of people over 50 in Northern Ireland and 17 per cent in Wales back Scottish independence, the poll suggests.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Family mourn death of Glasgow ‘fight’ schoolboy
- Rangers takeover: Duff & Phelps threaten legal action against BBC
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
- Rangers administration: Fans fear Duff & Phelps claims could scare off Green
- Rangers takeover: triple penalty punishment enough, says Johnston
- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Scottish independence: SNP flip-flops over Nato
- Scottish Independence: SNP ‘won’t be Yes campaign’s only voice’
- Scottish independence: Alex Salmond’s pledge to sign up 1m voters
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 31 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
soosider
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:39 AMIts not a Poll its a Survey, a survey of Saga customers. Part of a monthly survey carried out on a wide range of topics. Interesting that there are only a total of 8% to cover dont knows, undecided and wont votes. Good publicity for Saga thou
allymax
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:26 AM#25 cynicalm; voting 3 times eh!.....Are you ex Labour by any chance?....Just joking!
Brit-free
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:24 AMMark Bishop stop pestering us ! .......if you want to give us a link ,fair enough , as for the rest of your slightly condescending pontifications ......give us a break ......
Mark Bishop
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:25 PMHere is the link for your say in what happens https:consult.scotland.gov.ukscotreferendumconsultationintroview
Mark Bishop
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:23 PMOK girls and boys, you can now make your voices heard. Say what you want on what should be on the ballot paper. Say what you want on the campaign funds and also on whether 1617 year olds are responsible enough to vote and god knows they aren't responsible enough not to get pregnant or have an air rifle. Remember, all you passionate people, this is the future of your children and grandchildren you hold in your decision, so have a wee cup of tea and save and wait a few before deciding. Happy decision making!!
HeneageDundas
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:21 PMWell, my parents are middle class but worked hard all their lives to build a decent home and have a bit put aside for their old age. Those savings were diminished to almost zero by the blustering buffoon Broon and his moronic, numpty pals with the result that my innately unionist and conservative parents are now much more enamoured of the SNP and their policies and good government than they would ever have been if the union dividend were actually a positive thing. It looks likely that two more middle class, elderly voters may well vote YES as the status quo has let them, (and Scotland), down so very badly. Saor Alba gu brath!
cynicalm
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 09:51 PMAt 75 I will vote YES, YES YES!!
Gibbo
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 08:33 PM1 and 2 It depends where the poll is taken but there again all polls are always declared by the news media so they know where to take it, however as a 75 year old, who used to be a UnionistBrit will be voting a big !!!!!Y E S!!!!! I am one of the disilusioned Unionists who became aware of just how devious this Westminster Government has been all these many many many years so the question is WHAT HAS THE UK GOVERMENT EVER DONE FOR ME i SHALL TELL YOU NOTHING SO THE STATUS QUO IS NOT AN OPTION. vote yes yes yes , and roll on MAY.
allymax
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 08:07 PMDan-robber; I'm just commenting on the article. Isn't that what we're supposed to do
Danielrober2
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 07:33 PM# 20 allymax ............... Is that all you see pensioners as, potential votes? Goodness me you are shallow.
Danielrober2
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 07:31 PM# 13 Brit-free ............... Well what is the SNP detailed plan for pensions?
allymax
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:04 PMThe arrival of this so-called 'poll', at the same time Calamity Cameron stumbles nervously up to the podium, has all the incredible veracity of a Grimm fairytale..............................................As far as Scots pensioners are concerned, there are approx; 800,000 pensioners, and of that, only 60% (480,000), will vote. Of this approx' 480,000, the ‘well-off’ 30% (that have pensions etc, 130,000), approx' 70% (95,000), will vote No, with the remaining Yes, and Undecided; of which another 3-5% could vote No also. ...Overall, of the pensioners we're talking of, (the 30% well-off), I think 2\3rds (100,000) will vote No, and the remainder are made up of Yes votes, and undecided. .......................But, the 30% ‘well-off’ are not the majority of pensioners, they are only the upper-class pensioners. Of the other 70% of working class pensioners, (340,000), 70% will vote Yes, because they know the struggle they’ve been through under consecutive Tory, and Labour Westminster governments, and see how well the SNP have governed Scotland; so it’s all about their grandchildren, and their grandchildren’s futures; not the ‘old-aged’. So of these working class old-aged pensioners, 70% (240,000) will vote Yes, with the remaining 30% working class votes are ones that will have their votes stolen from them by Labour activists, They will want to 'sit-back' (in their comfy chairs), and let the yung-uns get oan wi it....but Labour activists will try and fill in their postal votes for them!..............Overall, the ‘old-aged’ 'well-off' vote will go to the No vote in a 2-1 majority, but the 'old-aged' 'Mary-dolls,-Nesbitts,-Cotters-n-gonnae-no-dae-that', Yes vote in Scotland goes 2-1 in favour of independence for Scotland. ................................So, 'well-of'f-30% at 2-1 for No-vote..and.....the 70% 'Mary-dolls,-Nesbitts'-Cotters-n-gonnae-no-dae-that' at 2-1 for Yes-vote.
Marga
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:24 PMI don't know, only last week this paper was telling us that according to some research, the average age of SNP members was 63 - who do you believe?
flyinngscott
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:17 PMThe real reason for holding the referendum later ;)
Brit-free
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 03:42 PMthe brit-jock labourites will steal the postal votes of the senile as usual , their reach into the geriatric homes by the labourite sponsored trade union reps .means great sheafs of ballot papers will be filled in by the same corrupt hand ......any older person with their faculties intact .....should consider the contempt that such a proven history of electoral corruption, illustrates , and vote to disinfect Scottish politics , by bleaching the labourite stain that has long sullied Scottish politics
Page 1 of 3
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.