MORI conducted regular polls on Scottish attitudes to independence or devolution between 1978 and 1992. For each survey, samples consisted of c. 900-1,000 Scottish adults aged 18+ unless otherwise indicated. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, and data were weighted to match the profile of adults in Scotland.
1978-88 | 1988-9 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1995
Q For running Scotland as a whole, would you like to see...?
1978-1988
|
A completely independent Scottish Assembly separate from England |
A Scottish Assembly as part of Britain but with substantial powers |
No change from the present system |
Don't know |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| 5 April 1978* |
20 |
52 |
25 |
4 |
| March 1979 |
14 |
42 |
35 |
9 |
| February 1981 |
25 |
46 |
30 |
0 |
| May 1981 |
25 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
| September 1981 |
23 |
47 |
31 |
0 |
| November 1981 |
22 |
47 |
26 |
5 |
| February 1982 |
23 |
53 |
19 |
5 |
| April 1982 |
22 |
45 |
27 |
6 |
| November 1982 |
22 |
47 |
26 |
5 |
| March 1983 |
23 |
48 |
26 |
2 |
| 4 June 1983 |
23 |
51 |
22 |
4 |
| 29 February -1 March 1984 |
25 |
45 |
27 |
3 |
| 24-25 February 1986 |
33 |
47 |
14 |
6 |
| 6-7 March 1987 |
32 |
50 |
15 |
3 |
| May 1987 |
29 |
41 |
25 |
5 |
| April 1988 |
35 |
42 |
20 |
3 |
*In 1978, the first option was worded as "A completely independent Scottish Parliament separate from England", but the second referred to "A Scottish Assembly..." as in the subsequent polls
Q Which of these options would you most like to see for running Scotland as a whole?
1988-9
|
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community |
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community |
Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers |
No change from the present system |
Don't know |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| 1-3 December 1988 |
10 |
24 |
46 |
16 |
4 |
| 25-28 February 1989 |
11 |
24 |
42 |
20 |
3 |
| 1-2 June 1989 |
12 |
22 |
49 |
15 |
2 |
| 11-13 September 1989 |
9 |
27 |
44 |
18 |
2 |
1990
|
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community |
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community |
Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers |
No change from the present system |
Don't know |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| 22-28 February 1990 |
10 |
24 |
44 |
19 |
3 |
| 15-20 May 1990 |
8 |
29 |
45 |
16 |
2 |
| 14-18 June 1990 |
10 |
28 |
43 |
17 |
2 |
| 19-22 July 1990 |
10 |
27 |
44 |
16 |
3 |
| 16-20 August 1990 |
7 |
31 |
44 |
16 |
2 |
| 19-23 September 1990 |
9 |
28 |
44 |
17 |
2 |
| 18-22 October 1990 |
9 |
30 |
44 |
15 |
2 |
| 15-18 November 1990 |
9 |
28 |
45 |
17 |
1 |
| 5-10 December 1990 |
7 |
25 |
49 |
17 |
2 |
1991
|
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community |
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community |
Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers |
No change from the present system |
Don't know |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| 17-20 January 1991 |
7 |
28 |
42 |
21 |
2 |
| 21-24 February 1991 |
10 |
23 |
45 |
20 |
2 |
| 7-25 March 1991* |
9 |
23 |
51 |
16 |
1 |
| 21-24 March 1991 |
8 |
27 |
42 |
21 |
2 |
| 18-20 April 1991 |
9 |
28 |
42 |
19 |
2 |
| 23-27 May 1991 |
7 |
26 |
45 |
19 |
3 |
| 20-24 June 1991 |
8 |
26 |
47 |
17 |
2 |
| 18-22 July 1991 |
8 |
28 |
43 |
18 |
3 |
| 22-26 August 1991 |
9 |
26 |
47 |
17 |
1 |
| 19-23 September 1991 |
9 |
26 |
45 |
17 |
3 |
| 17-21 October 1991 |
9 |
28 |
46 |
15 |
2 |
| 21-25 November 1991 |
8 |
26 |
47 |
16 |
3 |
| 12-16 December 1991 |
9 |
31 |
40 |
17 |
3 |
*Q on 7-25 March "Now thinking about the running of Scotland, which of these options would you most like to see?", Base:612 Scottish adults
1992
|
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community |
Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community |
Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers |
No change from the present system |
Don't know |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| 16-20 January 1992 |
9 |
31 |
42 |
15 |
3 |
| 20-24 February 1992 |
7 |
29 |
37 |
23 |
|
| 12 March 1992 |
8 |
26 |
42 |
20 |
|
| 19 March 1992 |
8 |
26 |
42 |
23 |
|
| 26 March 1992 |
7 |
27 |
44 |
20 |
|
| 2 April 1992 |
6 |
22 |
45 |
23 |
|
| 23-27 April 1992 |
5 |
22 |
47 |
25 |
1 |
| 21-25 May 1992 |
5 |
23 |
48 |
21 |
3 |
| 18-22 June 1992 |
5 |
29 |
40 |
23 |
3 |
| 23-27 July 1992 |
7 |
28 |
41 |
21 |
3 |
Q Now thinking about the running of Scotland, which of these options would you most like to see?
1995
|
An independent Scotland which is separate from both England and Wales and the European Union |
An independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Union |
Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers |
No change from the present system |
Don't know |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| 21 April - 8 May 1995* |
9 |
20 |
52 |
17 |
2 |
*Base in 1995: 375 Scottish adults aged 18+