Public Opinion
There have been a large number of polls conducted on support levels for Scottish independence. Professor John Curtice stated in January 2012 that polling shows support for independence at between 32% and 38% of the Scottish population. This has fallen somewhat since the SNP were first elected to become the Scottish Government in 2007. The research also shows, however, that the proportion of the population strongly opposed to independence has fallen significantly in recent years.
Polls show consistent strong support for a referendum, including amongst those who support the continuation of the union. Most opinion polls performed have a figure of in-principle support for a referendum around 70–75%.
Independence Opinion Polls
| Poll source | Date | For Independence |
Against Independence |
Leading by % | Undecided | Sample Size* |
Margin of Error (MoE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipsos Mori | October 2012 | 30% | 58% | 28 | 12 | 1,003 | |
|
Ipsos Mori |
June 2012 | 35% | 55% | 20 | 10 | 1,003 | |
|
Ipsos Mori |
January 2012 | 39% | 50% | 11 | 11 | 1,005 |
Read more about this topic: Scottish Independence
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—For the State of Vermont, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Government by average opinion is merely a circuitous method of going to the devil; those who profess to lead but in fact slavishly follow this average opinion are simply the fastest runners and the loudest squeakers of the herd which is rushing blindly down to its destruction.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)