Majority of UK now supports independence

Sunday 16 October 2011

SCOTTISH independence now has majority backing both north of the Border and in the UK as a whole, according to the latest poll figures.

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by Catriona Stewart

New research has shown that support for the move has risen sharply in recent months with nearly half of Scots and more than one third of Britons supporting independence.

The results are a boost for First Minister Alex Salmond as the Scottish National Party prepares to hold its autumn conference in Inverness next week.

Research by ComRes found that in Scotland the proportion supporting independence was up 11 points over the period at 49%.Some 37% disagreed -- down by nine points.In the UK overall, 39% of those surveyed agreed that Scotland should be an independent country -- an increase of six points since May.The number disagreeing with the statement had fallen four points to 38%.The SNP, which won an unprecedented overall majority in May elections, has promised to hold a referendum on independence towards the end of its five-year term.ComRes surveyed 2004 adults online across the UK on October 12 and 13.The Scotland Office pointed out that the sample for Scotland was small at just 176 people this month, and 183 in May."This poll is based on a very small sample of less than 200 Scots and we simply don't believe it reflects the wider picture accurately," a spokesman said."The Scottish Government has yet to put any detail on its plans for independence to the people of Scotland and we will continue to demand they do so, while at the same time making the strong and positive case for remaining part of the United Kingdom."SNP campaigns director and MP Angus Robertson said: "This is an excellent poll that shows support, in both Scotland and England, for our nations having a new relationship of equality as two independent countries, sharing a head of state and working together as partners in Europe."

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Majority of UK now supports independence

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