Independence 'key issue to 25%'

Feb 14 2013

A quarter of Scots rank independence as one of the most important issues facing the country, a poll has revealed.

Almost three quarters - 72% - of those questioned declared the cost of living and paying the bills to be one of their big concerns.

The poll, for the Daily Record, asked voters to name the five issues which are most important to them.

Top of the list was the cost of living and paying bills. Independence came eighth (25%), behind concerns over health, jobs and employment, education, taxes, welfare and benefits and crime.

A total of 1,091 adults were questioned for the Progressive poll, with the research carried out between February 6 and 10.

Just 6% of those questioned ranked gay rights as important, while the issue of Europe only mattered to 14%. Health was the most important issue for women and older people, with 75% of females and 78% of those aged over 55 highlighting this area.

Meanwhile, the most common concern amongst men (71%) was the cost of living and bills. More than two thirds - 68% - of those aged 18 to 24 said jobs and employment was one of the biggest issues.

On the issue of Europe, a separate poll in The Times found 61% said an independent Scotland should be a member of the European Union (EU), with 33% saying the country should not join the EU if it left the UK, while 6% did not know.

More than half of people - 58% - agreed there should be a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU - something being proposed by Prime Minister David Cameron if the Conservatives are re-elected in 2015. A third of those questioned in the Ipsos MORI poll - 36% - said there should not be a referendum on Europe, while 6% did not know.

If there were a referendum on Britain's future in the EU, just over half - 53% - said they would vote for the country to remain a member, while 34% said they would back Britain leaving, with 13% unsure.