SUPPORT for Scottish independence is higher in England than Scotland, a new survey reveals today.
Only one in four people in England believe Scotland should be governed independently, the latest British Social Attitudes survey shows.
However, the same survey shows just 23% of Scots back independence.
The Scottish figure was published earlier this year along with evidence showing three-fifths of Scots wanted taxes and welfare to be run from Holyrood rather than Westminster.
Today's report reveals new details of English attitudes towards Scottish independence and devolution.
It shows 25% of English people believe Scotland should be independent; 43% support devolution; and 23% say there should not be a Scottish parliament at all.
The report, co-authored by Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University, says: "It suggests that in the early years of devolution at least, people in England were quite willing to accommodate Scotland's wish to have its own parliament.
"Indeed, at between some 50% and 60%, until 2003 support for devolution was as high in England as it was in Scotland itself.
"However, since then support for Scottish devolution has tailed off somewhat and now stands at just 43%, well below the figure - 61% - found north of the border.
"This decline has been accompanied by both somewhat greater opposition to the idea of having a Scottish Parliament at all and by rather greater support for the idea that Scotland should leave the United Kingdom.
"Indeed, at 25%, support in England for Scottish independence is now at least as high as it is in Scotland itself (23%)."
The report adds: "England has, it seems, become rather less sympathetic towards the 'demands' of its Scottish neighbour."
The report also finds overwhelming opposition to Scots MPs voting on English-only issues at Westminster. Nearly two-thirds (65%) said Scots MPs should not be allowed to vote, compared with 8% who said they should.
Just over a fifth of English people questioned (21%) said Scotland received "much more than its fair share" of government spending.
Overall, 43% believed Scotland received more than its fair share, compared with 30% who thought it got "pretty much" the right amount. Just 5% believe Scotland receives less than its fair share. A high proportion (22%) said they did not know either way.
The number believing Scotland receives more than its share has rocketed from 21% in 2000, the year after Holyrood opened for business.
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