Scottish Devolution Referendum Surveys, 1979

MORI conducted three polls of Scottish opinions and voting intentions in the weeks running up to the referendum on a Scottish Assembly, which was held on 1 March 1979.

• In the first survey, for London Weekend Television's Weekend World programme, MORI interviewed an interlocking quota sample of 1,015 adults aged 18+ in 40 constituencies across Scotland on 12-14 February 1979.
• In the second survey, for the Scottish Daily Express, MORI interviewed an interlocking quota sample of 1,037 adults aged 18+ in 40 constituencies across Scotland on 20-22 February 1979.
• In the final survey, for the Scottish Daily Express, MORI interviewed an interlocking quota sample of 1,003 adults aged 18+ in 40 constituencies across Scotland on 27-28 February 1979.

Interviews in each case were conducted face to face. (This page shows only the trend questions asked across more than one survey: see the page dealing with each individual survey for other questions.)

Q. As you may know, the Scottish people will vote on 1st March in a referendum to decide whether there should be a Scottish Assembly or not. How likely are you to vote in this referendum?

	12-14 February 1979	20-22 February 1979	27-28 February 1979
	%	%	%
Absolutely certain will vote	51	51	70
Fairly certain will vote	25	26	8
Not sure whether will vote or not	9	11	5
Fairly certain will not vote	4	4	2
Absolutely certain will not vote	7	5	8
Don't know	3	3	6

Q. If you do vote in this referendum will you vote for the setting up of a Scottish Assembly or not? Base: All

	12-14 February 1979	20-22 February 1979	27-28 February 1979
	%	%	%
Yes, will vote for Scottish Assembly	49	45	38
No, will vote opposing Scottish Assembly	26	30	38
Will not vote	7	5	7
Don’t know/refused	19	20	17

Base: All "absolutely certain will vote"

	12-14 February 1979	20-22 February 1979	27-28 February 1979
	%	%	%
Yes, will vote for Scottish Assembly	55	54	n/a
No, will vote opposing Scottish Assembly	28	33	n/a
Will not vote	*	*	n/a
Don't know	16	12	n/a

Base: All giving a referendum voting intention (i.e. repercentaged to exclude "don't knows")

	12-14 February 1979	20-22 February 1979	27-28 February 1979	Referendum result 1 March 1979
	%	%	%	%
Yes	64	60	50	51.6
No	36	40	50	48.4