Majority in UK think Scotland will become independent

A majority of people in the UK believe Scotland will become an independent country despite the No vote in last year’s referendum, according to a study.

In Scotland, 69% believe there will be a split while 59% of those surveyed in England, 54% in Wales and 59% in Northern Ireland think that Scotland will eventually leave the UK.

The findings are from a survey of more than 7,000 voters across the UK by a team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh.

The level of engagement around the referendum looks to have had a legacy with 76% of Scots who took part saying they will vote in May’s election, compared to 63% in England, 64% in Wales and 55% in Northern Ireland.

The contrast is bigger among young people with 65% of 18 and 19-year-olds in Scotland saying they will vote, compared to just 34% in England.

The survey also found that satisfaction with the UK’s current constitutional arrangements varies. In England, 43% believe their country receives less government spending than it is due while the figure is 44% in Scotland, 37% in Northern Ireland and 68% in Wales.

The researchers found that there is majority agreement that a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union (EU) should be decided by a majority of votes across the UK, instead of individual countries being allowed to veto the result.