41% of Scots 'favour Devo Plus'

Jun 21 2012

Holyrood should be given more powers short of independence, according to a new poll.

The result means the most popular option is not likely to be on the ballot paper in the referendum in autumn 2014, which is expected to offer a straight Yes or No to independence.

Known by supporters as Devo Plus, not to be confused with the slightly stronger Devo Max, the proposal is designed to make Holyrood and Westminster accountable for what they spend in Scotland.

It would see the transfer to Edinburgh of income and corporation tax, among other levies, as well as assigning a geographic share of Scotland's oil revenue.

The poll of 1,003 people showed 41% prefer Devo Plus, with the status quo on 29% and independence on 27%.

It also showed 61% think the Scottish Government should be raising most of the money available to the Scottish Parliament.

A majority of Scots want unionist parties to campaign for more devolved powers, the survey revealed.

Ben Thomson, chairman of Reform Scotland, the group that formulated the proposal, said: "This poll is further proof of what we have suspected for some time.

"The current debate on Scotland's constitutional future is not adequately serving the people of Scotland because it is largely ignoring their preferred way forward."

He called for all parties to "lay their cards on the table", adding: "It's time people know exactly what they're voting for, and if nobody is offering Devo Plus, the most popular option, the question must be: why not?"