Fewer say they would be actively upset if Scotland left, however
A decade ago, the people of Scotland voted to remain within the UK by a margin of 55% to 45%. A recent YouGov survey shows that 10 years on opinion on independence remains about the same, with 56% of voters saying they would vote ‘No’ and 44% ‘Yes’.
But there are two sides to a divorce – while the rest of the country does not get to vote on Scottish independence, what do people in England and Wales want?
A new YouGov survey shows that 68% of English adults want to see Scotland remain within the Union, with only 15% thinking they should become independent. Most Welsh people likewise want Scotland to stay (56%), although a higher rate of 27% support their independence – unsurprising given Wales has its own independence movement.
Britain-wide there is strong support for the Union across the main parties, with 67-84% of those who voted for one of the four largest parties at the recent general election saying that Scotland should remain in the UK. Labour voters are the most likely to want to see Scottish secession, at 18%.
Support for the Union is lowest among 18-24 year olds, with only 49% saying Scotland should stay, compared to 62-75% of older age groups. Even still, only 21% of the youngest Britons want Scotland to take its own path – not especially higher than the 14-20% among other age groups – with 29% instead unsure.
While two thirds of Britons want Scotland to stay in the UK, only 46% say they would be actively upset were they to depart. A further third (32%) say it wouldn’t bother them either way, while 14% would be pleased for Scotland (or to see the back of them).
These figures are largely the same in England, while in Wales more would be pleased to see Scotland gain its independence (25%) while fewer would be indifferent (20%).
Younger Britons are also substantially less likely to say they would be upset (33%) than their elders, including 44% of 25-49 year olds and 53% of the over-65s.
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Photo: Getty
