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68 per cent of English want independence from Scotland
Last updated at 13:07pm on 26.11.06
Cut and run: 68 per cent of English voters their own parliament
A majority of voters in both England and Scotland back the break-up of the United Kingdom, a shock poll revealed today. The poll found more 68 per cent of English people want their own parliament, while 59 per cent back Scottish independence.
The poll was seized upon by the Scottish National Party, which stands to gain from the findings while Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have set their faces against independence. Both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown used appearances at Labour's Scottish conference to defend the union while baiting the SNP.
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• Cameron favoured over Brown in poll
The poll, carried out for The Sunday Telegraph, also found more than two-thirds – 68 per cent – of English people want their own parliament, an idea supported by 58 per cent of Scots. A move to complete English independence from the rest of the UK is backed by 48% of voters in England and 45 per cent of their Scottish neighbours.
The findings indicate a hardening of support for Scottish independence as the issue comes into focus ahead of the forthcoming Holyrood elections. Earlier this month a similar ICM poll for The Scotsman found 51 per cent of Scots wanted to break away from England.
The development could have serious electoral implications for Labour as ministers have been using the prospect of Scottish independence to ward off SNP gains in May. The Prime Minister warned on Friday of a "constitutional crisis" if the SNP won control of the Scottish Parliament while the Chancellor today espoused the benefits of the union.
Responding to the poll, Mr Brown maintained his stance. "There is a debate to be had about the future of the United Kingdom," he said. "But I think when you look at the arguments, when you look at the family ties, the economic connections, the shared values, the history of our relationship which has lasted 300 years, people will decide we are stronger together and weaker apart."
But SNP leader Alex Salmond said that Scots were tired of being ruled from London. "The onset of devolution has made people realise that since we have a devolved parliament, it's time to have a real parliament with real powers," he said.
Mr Salmond suggested that Labour wanted to maintain the union out of "naked self interest" - to retain its grip on Westminster. He added that English voters were "quite rightly" resentful of the influence of Scottish MPs in English affairs.
"The people of both countries are now seeing through this unionist charade and supporting independence and self-respect for both countries," Mr Salmond said. "No amount of scare mongering from Brown and Blair will stop the independence tide. A new partnership of equal and independent nations will be much more positive than the present hotchpotch of confusion and resentment."
Tory leader David Cameron backed the union and dismissed the notion of a new English parliament. Mr Cameron told The Sunday Telegraph: "The union between England, Scotland and Wales is good for us all and we are stronger together than we are apart.
"Conservatives want to strengthen the union and that is why we must sort out the issue of the West Lothian Question and why we believe it is time to look at how parliament votes on laws that apply only to England.
"However, the last thing we need is yet another parliament with separate elections and more politicians spending more money."
Sir Menzies Campbell, the Lib Dem leader, said: "Once devolution has bedded down in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it would be entirely appropriate to consider the role of MPs from all three countries at Westminster.
"We should do this calmly and rationally by means of a constitutional convention with a responsibility to report to Parliament. The last thing we need is knee jerk opportunistic political responses to this issue."
Reader views (23)
Excellent news, it appears that you english crave Independence as much as us Scots do!!
RIP ''UK'', roll on Scottish freedom.
- Billy, Aberdeen, Scotland
I am proud to be English but it is such ashame that we all cannot get along together, where ever we are from we are still all human beings and should show love for each other. It is ashame that the goverments are only thinking of themselves in every aspect of what they do and not working for the sake of the people of England,Scotland,Wales and Northern Island. Yes it would save us alot of money breaking away from Scotland but I myself value the relationship between all nations and countries. It does not matter what we want anyway it will only be the goverment thats chooses what is going to happen anyway. I do believe that we should a more balanced parliment but I can never see that happening in my life time.
- Lesley Vann, Leicester England
To Steve of London, mate the English people were not asked whether they wanted a union with the french supporting neighbours of the north, The union was not the sole creation of the Engle, read some unbiased factual history rather than revised lefty stuff. Maybe if our neighbours had never alligned themselves with enemies of England over the centuries we may have got on a lot better. To late now, Independence and assertive government is the way ahead, England has been exploited by a Scotch dominated government for too long, even the English side of the river Tweed is governed from Edinburgh, this is not right all Scotch M.P's must be returned to Edinburgh to govern their own fine country.
- Tom Pattison, durham
I love being Anglo Saxon and germanic. Independence for England and high taxes for all goods passing through England or English waters on their way to scotland. A nice little earner indeed. North sea oil , you can have it all, its days are numbered. By the way I love Tunnocks tea cakes
- Tom Pattison, durham
I'm all for English independence and of course Scottish independence - I'm even for the People's Republic of Edinburgh...our capital city was built with the Floden Wall surrounding it to keep marauding neighbours out...now 3 out of 10 residents in Edinburgh are Londoners. C'mon London there's a higher population living in London than in the whole of Scotland (a mere 5m in Scotland altogether)...time to leave old Edinburgh - we'll keep our beautiful Athens of the North for ourselves! By the way on the subject of 'foreigners' the Welsh are the original inhabitants of this island. Blood tests now reveal that a very higher percentage of Anglo Saxons are more European than you think...on the German/Danish side!
- Lynn, Edinburgh
You people are idiots, what about Wales and Northern Ireland. I'm English and I like Scotland, it makes us English people look good, Scotland has a better education system, and Scotland being independent means they will become really rich, due to North Sea oil.
- Ethan Jonssey, London
I'll tell you 'what can be done with Wales', we'll have some of that independence too. Can we do it today please?
- Taffy, Wales
What a marvellous idea! Can someone (ppp of course) build a ruddy great wall between the two countries. Good fences make good neighbours. I suppose on the downside, we will have the scots constantly siding with France on EU issues. probbaly demand their subsidies back.
- Mark Cleminson, Richmond, BC Canada
This would be good for English tax-payers but bad for the Union in particular Scottish workers who rely on state employment. The same could be true for much of the North of England where Local Government is the largest employer. As the money from taxes dries up, and the drain on the public purse from Public Sector Pensions starts to bite the figures from employment in these areas will rapidly decline. You can draw an analogy with the poorest African countries. When the food aid stops the people will suffer because we have been feeding them rather than helping them to feed themselves. Short term measures never work and do not tackle the underlying problems. However they do make good press clippings and sound bites.
- Dan, Manchester
Sounds like good common sense. Scotland should do better as a small, independent country, England will do better as a small independent country and if Scotland splits it will have to think about the other home countries. Just think from England's point of view if the countries in the Union could be split:
i) A thriving Scotland, better for England (and vica versa of course)
ii) Politicans who represent English communities concentrating on English issues. The English need to heal the political rift between its North and South.
iii) A cut in defense spending and a removal of much of the UK's armed forces with a huge cut in English and Scottish spending
iv) The return of Northern Ireland to Eire and the removal of the English subsidy and it and Scotland's blood sacrifice with the huge cut in English spending.
v) An almost complete removal of the English (sorry UK) subsidy to the European Union with an increase in European funds to the other home nations
v) The reorganisation of the European Union. Each of the home countries will have the same voting power of Greek Cyrpus or Malta.
The only problem is - what can be done with Wales?
- David, UK
And while we are about it send all the Scots back North of the Border until they apply for a work permit.
- Dereck, Eltham, London, England
Can we have border patrols and passports too please? Especially for politicians!
- Paul Ebhart, Guildford
The sooner England is independent of Scotland the better and more so with the departure of the Scottish cabal in Palace of Westminster, (which essentially is the English Parliament). AND by the way, the North Sea is not the staple diet of the UK. So Scotland can keep the North Sea at least the vast majority of public servants could be "privately" employed for a change.
- Lorraine French-Skinner, London
Who is kidding who here. The only people to gain from an independent Scotland are politicians and civil servants. Scotland does not have enough industry to stand alone (for industry include call centres, banks etc).
Already there are significant areas of Scotland where the state is the largest employer, who will pay the taxes to meet these salaries? Certainly there are insufficient private sector workers, those that there are will find their jobs going south when coporation tax ends up higher in Scotland than England.
- John, Edinburgh
Get rid of New Labour first then look at their crooked devolution deal. Unscramble it and start afresh. Cutting Scotland loose would just cause chaos north of the Border.
- James Ritchie, London, UK.
Guess what BRITISH funded industry would be claimed by an independent Scotland. Do any of those Brits who want to ditch what they a perceive as problematic part of their nation care to comment about North Sea gas and oil? Divorcing yourself from a problem doesn't solve that problem, it just introduces more problems into the mix.
- Rogan M, DFW TX USA
Scotland is a wonderful asset to the UK. Consider the outstanding Scottish inventors, scientists, engineers, etc.
It would be a tragedy, if now we have a United Europe, we start dismantling the UK.
- John Jones, Hampton, Middlesex
I wish we could also be given the chance of getting rid of Corsica!
- Jacques, Cannes - France
Couldn't we make a big deep saw cut roughly along Hadrien's Wall and give Scotland a push north? Ideally when Blair, Brown, Reid et al are visiting.
- Frank, Wolverhampton England
The time is right for both Scotland and England to take the next step. For both to be Independent nation states. I'm ready for an Independent Scotland. This will allow the Scottish economy to flourish and the income from our vast natural resources to be directed towards Scottish priorities.
Question for Edward, Bristol - Do UK Ministers born in England not have vested interests?
- Bob, Glasgow, Scotland
The countries of Scotland, Ireland and Wales were all defeated in battle and forced by the English to form a union. It is now time for the three nations to be free again to decide their own destinies. No more money or help should be given to these countries and our military should be broken up and paid for by each separate nation. I will never vote for a party that is run by any Scottish mp simply for the reason that they do not have my interests at heart. Why should we have to have foreigners telling us how to run our own country, its bad enough with Europe? The people should be allowed to vote on this issue once and for all and never mind what the politicians say. There is very little friendship between England and the rest of the UK so I say let them have their freedom and you never know we might just get on that much better.
- Steve, London England
Don't you believe it. The public are having the pollsters on. The Uk is here to stay.
- Dhanraj, Basildon, Essex
Yes, please, and the sooner the better. And let's get rid of Tony Blair (Scottish), Gordon Brown (Scottish), John Reid (Scottish) and the other "UK Westminster Ministers" who are Scottish and therefore have vested interests. I am English by birth and heritage.
- Edward, Bristol, UK
