English do not want to split Union, poll shows
Scotsman
July 16, 2006
TWO-THIRDS of English voters do not want England to become independent from the rest of the UK, according to a poll published today.
The survey found 60% of those south of the Border would back the Union while 9% remained undecided and 30% wanted England to split from Scotland.
It is the second poll in the past seven days to show a significant, but not majority, level of support for an English Parliament.
Scottish nationalists claimed the survey, which comes seven years after the formation of the Holyrood Parliament, highlighted growing disillusionment with the union.
SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "It's time both countries were self-governing, having responsibility for their own resources and passing their own laws while working together in a new partnership of equals.
"Gone will be a surly lodger, and in its place a new and very friendly neighbour. Clearly this is the future."
Almost 900 English voters were questioned for a Sunday newspaper which found 60% of voters in England were happy with the status quo. The telephone research was carried out by ICM between Tuesday and Thursday last week.
Last week, an Ipsos MORI poll found 26% of those asked want an English Parliament. The figure is up from 16% from previous national survey, and comes amid growing resentment against Scots MPs voting on legislation at Westminster which has no impact on their own constituencies.
When pollsters asked respondents on their opinion of an English Parliament in light of the so-called West Lothian Question, support jumped to 41%. Just a third said they were happy with the current House of Commons.
A spokesman for the English Constitutional Convention, which commissioned the poll, said: "The issue is about democracy and fairness for the people of England. The poll shows there has been a dramatic shift towards support for this idea."
The SNP recently published a YouGov poll putting support for a referendum on Scottish independence at 82%.
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