Scottish independence: ‘Growing resentment’ south of the Border about Scottish devolution

NEARLY a third of English voters “strongly agree” that Scottish MPs should be blocked from voting on issues that affect the law only in England, according to a survey that shows “growing resentment” south of the Border about the devolution settlement.

The figures suggested the number of English voters who believe Scotland gets more than its fair share of funding for public services had more than doubled during the past decade – from 21 per cent in 2000 to 44 per cent in 2011.

There was also a sharp rise in English backing for Scottish independence, from 19 per cent to 26 per cent over the SNP’s first term in power between 2007 and 2011, NatCen Social Research’s British Social Attitudes survey (BSA) showed.

Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, the head of Holyrood’s economy committee, suggested the independence debate in Scotland had fuelled increased support for Scottish MPs being barred from Westminster votes on laws that affect only England.

The figures showed 31 per cent of those surveyed in 2010 favoured the move, compared with only 18 per cent in 2000.

Mr Fraser said: “It’s not surprising with the heightened debate about the independence referendum that English voters are becoming more focused on the constitutional issue.

“There is growing concern south of the Border about these issues and the UK government has made it clear that it is determined to resolve these questions. The findings of this survey will give added impetus to that.

“It’s also clear that the financial arrangements around devolution need to be looked at, as there’s growing resentment in England towards what is seen as a generous financial settlement for Scotland.“

In the BSA survey of 3,000 voters south of the Border, more than 56 per cent said England should be governed by the UK parliament rather than by an English parliament or by regional assemblies – a figure largely unchanged during the past decade.

John Curtice, a professor of politics at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, insisted the BSA figures did not represent a major change in anti-Scottish feeling in England. He said: “These issues may be more hotly debated because of the independence referendum, but it’s always been true that parts of the English electorate felt that way.

“What’s interesting, though, is that, while there seems to be some grumbling, people in England are not sufficiently upset that they want English devolution.”

SNP MSP Humza Yousaf welcomed the findings that showed English backing for Scottish independence had increased from 19 per cent in 2000 – the same level of support as in 2007 – to 26 per cent in 2011

He said: “People from England and the rest of the UK are increasingly comfortable with the possibility of political and economic independence for Scotland.

“Independence for Scotland makes sense for all the people of Scotland and England.

“The momentum is with independence, so much so that support for independence for Scotland amongst the people of England is at an all-time high.”