EDINBURGH, Scotland — Support among voters in Scotland for quitting Britain and becoming an independent country is declining, according to a poll published today.
Backing for independence fell to 30 percent of respondents, while those wanting to keep the status quo increased to 58 percent, according to the Ipsos MORI survey published in Thursday’s London-based Times newspaper. The 28 percentage-point gap compares with 20 points in June and 11 points in January, based on reports from the same pollster.
Independence is the cornerstone policy of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and his ruling Scottish National Party, whose four-day annual conference opens Thursday in Perth. The poll is also the first to be published since Salmond signed an agreement with British Prime Minister David Cameron this week to hold a referendum, scheduled for the fall of 2014.
The earlier momentum in favour of independence has been lost and support has returned to its historical average, Christopher McLean, senior research executive with Ipsos MORI Scotland, said in a statement on the pollster’s website.
The report is in line with the findings in other surveys. A TNS BRMB poll published on Oct. 8 in the Glasgow-based Herald newspaper showed support for independence at 28 percent, against 53 percent for remaining in Britain. The 25-point margin compares with 20 points in July and a nine point gap in January.
The two governments agreed that 16- and 17-year-olds can vote in the referendum, the first time that age group has been eligible to vote in any election. The referendum will contain a single “yes” or “no” question. Cameron said he will consider enhanced powers for the Scottish parliament in the event of a “no” vote.
Highest support for independence is among 35- to 54-year-olds at 35 percent, with backing in the country’s most deprived areas at 43 percent. Younger voters in the 18-24 age group shows the same support as those over 55, at 27 percent. That represents a drop of 10 percentage points among 18- to 24-year-olds since June. Support has fallen 20 percentage points in that period among in the 25-34 age group.
The poll was conducted Oct. 8-15 with 1,000 voters. No margin of error was given.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
