Majority of UK against Scottish independence

THE majority of people across the UK do not want to see a separate Scotland, according to the latest opinion poll.

But while the strong majority are pro-UK, even in Scotland, there are wide differences in opinion over whether Scotland alone should decide the future of the UK or if the whole of Britain should have its say.

A new Guardian/ICM poll, shows that around 68 per cent of respondents across Britain say “the UK is stronger together”, as against just 24 per cent who believe England and Scotland “are proud nations in their own right”, which could thrive on their own.

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The unionist balance of opinion is evident across England, as well as Scotland and Wales. The pro-UK majority exceeds two to one in every case, even among Scots who back the union on this question by a 63 -30 per cent margin.

The Scotland-only results necessarily rely on a much smaller sample, but are in line with the findings of other recent polls in suggesting Mr Salmond has a battle on his hands to win public support.

A recent YouGov survey for Channel 4 News of Scottish voters pointed to a 61-39 per cent referendum defeat for independence.

Across Britain, only 28 per cent deem that “it is for the Scottish government to manage Scotland’s referendum” as against 61 per cent who judge London is right to want “a say on the ground rules” because “independence would affect the whole UK”.

Even among Scottish respondents, a majority, 56 per cent, take the latter position, against just 39 per cent who think the plebiscite is Scotland’s to manage alone.