ALMOST half of English people oppose Scottish independence and want to have a say if Scots vote to control their own affairs, a new poll shows.

The findings kicked off a furious row after the chairman of the polling company suggested it showed there was no such thing as “Scottishness”.

Asked about the company’s findings, Andrew Hawkins said they could add weight “to the argument “Scottishness” itself is specious, that Scots are simply those who live in the northern-most part of Great Britain.”

Stewart Hosie, the SNP’s Treasury spokesman, said the comments were “outrageous”. He added: “To suggest there is no such thing as Scottishness, and by definition no such thing as Scotland, is an extraordinary statement and one which seems based on nothing more than individual prejudice.

“It is also a suggestion which should anger all Scots whatever their political views. Scotland is unquestionably a nation, regardless of people’s views on the country’s constitutional future.”

He also called on the BBC, who commissioned the poll, to reconsider hiring the company, ComRes, in the future.

Mr Hawkins later issued a clarification saying he did not “support or oppose any specific position” but was simply voicing the opinions of “those who question the reality of a unique Scottishness”.

Alex Salmond has always insisted a decision on independence is one for Scotland alone and there is no role for English opinion. However, there have been calls for other parts of the UK to have a vote.

Academics have also suggested a separate second referendum could be needed, potentially on both sides of the border, to agree any “deal” done on separation.

On an English referendum, the poll reveals an almost even split in public opinion.

Almost half (45%) think a vote should be held in the rest of the UK if Scotland backs independence, but almost the same number, 47%, say that there should be no such vote.

Scottish Labour last night said the findings showed most people were proud to be part of the UK, while the Scottish Government played down the significance of a call for an English vote. It said the results showed the English were “relaxed” about the prospect of Scottish independence.

The poll also showed only moderate support for an independent England, despite accusations that the Scottish Government is attempting to appeal to English separatism.

Just over one in three support a separate Scotland, almost the same percentage as Scots who were questioned in for a survey for The Herald last month.

On Scottish independence nearly half (48%) also oppose the idea of a separate Scotland, almost half as many again as the 36% who support it.

However, there are also a significant number of “don’t knows”, 15%, who say they have not made up their mind.

Despite complaints from English MPs that Scotland receives too much money from central Government more than half of those asked thought that a standalone Scotland would make no difference to England’s affluence.

Those from higher social classes were more likely to oppose an independent Scotland, the poll also reveals.

Women were also more likely than men to think that England should get its own referendum.

One in three of those asked (36%) think that England itself should be independent, while 57% were opposed to such a move.

ComRes questioned 864 people last month.