English wants to 'ditch' Scots

2007-04-29 12:06

London - Support for Scottish independence is much higher among the English than the Scots, a poll showed Sunday, as Scots nationalists geared up for elections to the Scottish parliament this week.

An ICM poll published in the News of the World showed that 56% of the English surveyed believe it is now time to end the 300-year-old union, compared to 41% among Scots.

The ICM poll said a majority of English also oppose higher spending on Scots households and votes for Scots MPs on English-only issues.

Scots receive a larger share of tax money for public services than those in England.

English voters are also unhappy with a constitutional anomaly in which Scottish lawmakers can continue to vote on English issues at Westminster but their English colleagues have no say on policy north of the border.

The Scottish Parliament controls policy in Scotland over issues such as health and education, but lawmakers in London retain control over such things as defence, foreign affairs and major economic issues.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is promising a referendum on independence if it wins the lion's share of seats to the 129-member devolved parliament in Edinburgh in Thursday's elections.

Labour currently has the most seats, but not an outright majority and is a partner with the Liberal Democrats in a ruling coalition.

British parties are also contesting elections Thursday to English local councils and the Welsh parliament.

In another ICM survey, Britain's opposition Conservative leader David Cameron remained ahead of Gordon Brown, his expected rival from the governing Labour Party, as the voters' choice for prime minister.

The ICM survey for Sunday's News of the World gave Cameron a five-point lead over Brown, or 42% over 37%, which is less than the advantage the Conservatives enjoy over Labour under Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Within days after the elections, Blair is expected to fulfill a promise to step down and hand over to Brown, his finance minister and erstwhile rival.

The ICM survey shows Cameron with a 16-percent advantage in the southeast, a 12-percent lead in central England, a four-percent edge among 25-to-34 year olds, a nine-percent advance among over 55s and a four-percent lead in Wales and the southwest.

But Brown enjoys a 28-point margin among fellow Scots and a narrow one-percent lead in the vital north of England battleground.

He also has the backing of 18-to-24-year-olds by 44% to 38% while the remaining age group - those aged 45 to 54 - are split equally between the two men.

ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,042 adults across the country by telephone between April 25 and 27 and the results were weighted to the profile of all adults.

- AFP