Welsh firmly back Britain's Union

Most 'support English parliament'

There is strong support for Wales remaining part of Great Britain, according to a survey for the BBC.

Nearly 70% of people in Wales said they wanted to keep the Union as it is with 20% being in favour of independence.

The BBC Wales/Newsnight poll found 48% thought Wales would lose financially by splitting from England and Scotland whilst 14% believed it would benefit.

The telephone survey marks the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union which brought the three countries together.

But 33% of respondents believed Wales' culture would be enhanced by a split, 13% thought it would be diminished.

KEY WALES POLL FINDINGS

• 68% support the Union
• 20% want independence
• 48% think independence would damage Wales financially
• 14% think independence would benefit Wales financially
• Source: ORB telephone survey for BBC Wales/Newsnight

Support for the Union was strongest in England, where 74% of those surveyed wanted to keep it.

It was weakest in Scotland but 56% of Scots still wanted to remain British, with 32% wanting independence.

The 20% in favour in favour of independence in Wales is higher than in similar previous surveys, which have tended to hover around the 10 to 15% mark.

A good majority throughout Britain thought Wales, England and Scotland would remain together for at least another 50 years.

Fifthy seven per cent of people in Wales believed this to be the case.

There was also considerable support throughout Britain for the creation of an English parliament, now that Wales and Scotland have devolution.

Sixty per cent of those surveyed in England wanted their own parliament, 52% of Scots and 48% of people in Wales wanted devolution for England.

READ THE FINDINGS

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Wales was united with England in the 16th Century but the full Union was completed 300 years ago when Scotland signed an Act of Union.

The study follows claims by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain that the UK could be broken up by a coalition of Tories and nationalists.

Mr Hain said Plaid Cymru would damage Wales economically by pursuing independence while the Conservatives would harm the Union by cutting the role of Welsh MPs.

Plaid and the Conservatives have accused Mr Hain of trying to scare people into voting Labour in May's Welsh assembly election.

HAVE YOUR SAY
"The nationalists here in Wales and in Scotland like to see devolution in the context of autonomy within the EU"
Griff, Cardiff

Send us your comments

The telephone poll was carried out by Opinion Research Business for BBC Newsnight between 5-8 January.

They surveyed 527 of adults in Wales, 883 in England and 543 in Scotland.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
National Assembly for Wales
Scottish Parliament
Campaign for an English Parliament
Newsnight
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