Scottish Devolution Survey, April 1978
MORI poll in Scotland for the LWT programme Weekend World
MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,002 adults aged 18+ in 40 sampling points across Scotland on 5 April 1978. Interviews were conducted face to face. The survey was conducted for the LWT current affairs programme Weekend World.
Q1 If there were a General Election tomorrow, which party would you support? Q2 (If undecided/refused) Which party do you think you would be most inclined to support? Base: All naming a party
| % | |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 30 |
| Labour | 41 |
| Scottish Labour Party | 1 |
| Liberal | 3 |
| SNP | 27 |
| Other | 0 |
Q3 If you did not vote for [party named at Q1/Q2], which party would you vote for instead?
| All | Con | Lab | SNP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | |
| Conservative | 7 | 2 | 9 | 14 |
| Labour | 11 | 9 | 2 | 27 |
| SNP | 16 | 19 | 28 | 5 |
| Liberal | 7 | 12 | 6 | 4 |
| Scottish Labour Party | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Other | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Undecided | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 |
| Would not vote | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Refused | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| No other party | 24 | 35 | 25 | 24 |
Q4 What would you say is the single most important problem facing Scotland today? Q5 Now looking at this card which other problems, if any, do you think are particularly important to people in Scotland these days? What others?
| Q4/5 Combined answers | |
|---|---|
| % | |
| Unemployment | 83 |
| Prices/cost-of-living | 43 |
| Vandalism | 41 |
| Housing/rents/rates | 37 |
| Education/schools | 30 |
| Taxes | 27 |
| Wages/salaries | 24 |
| Scottish Assembly/devolution/independence | 24 |
| Pensions | 22 |
| North Sea Oil | 21 |
| Immigration | 9 |
| Abortion | 6 |
| Other | 3 |
| None | 1 |
| Don't know | 0 |
Q6 I am going to read out a list of problems facing people in Scotland today. I would like you to tell me from this card which party you think would be best at handling each problem.
| Conservative | Labour | Liberal | SNP | Don't know | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | % | 25 | 36 | 2 | 18 | 20 |
| Prices | % | 26 | 34 | 2 | 18 | 21 |
| Housing | % | 26 | 35 | 2 | 19 | 19 |
| Vandalism | % | 26 | 23 | 1 | 17 | 34 |
| Scottish Assembly/ devolution/ independence | % | 15 | 23 | 3 | 38 | 22 |
| North Sea Oil | % | 19 | 25 | 1 | 37 | 19 |
| Education and schools | % | 30 | 33 | 2 | 18 | 18 |
| Scottish problems generally | % | 16 | 27 | 2 | 39 | 17 |
Q7 For running Scotland as a whole, which of these three alternatives would you prefer, overall?
| % | |
|---|---|
| A completely independent Scottish Parliament separate from England | 20 |
| A Scottish Assembly as part of Britain but with substantial powers | 52 |
| No change from the present system | 25 |
| Don't know | 4 |
Q8 If there were a referendum tomorrow on whether or not there should be a Scottish Assembly with the powers proposed in the Government Bill, would you vote yes or no?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Yes, for Scottish Assembly | 63 |
| No, opposed to Scottish Assembly | 27 |
| Don't know | 10 |
Q9 I am going to read out some things which some people have said. For each one I would like you to tell me whether, on balance, you agree or disagree.
| Agree | Disagree | Don't know | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A vote for the SNP is mainly a protest vote | % | 42 | 48 | 10 |
| The government's proposals for a Scottish assembly have undermined the SNP's support | % | 38 | 42 | 21 |
| The SNP will promise anything to get votes | % | 42 | 46 | 12 |
| The SNP will be a major influence on Scottish policy in the future | % | 58 | 29 | 13 |
Q10 Do you feel more favourable or less favourable towards the SNP than you did at this time last year?
| % | |
|---|---|
| More | 22 |
| Less | 12 |
| Same | 62 |
| Don't know | 5 |
Q11 (If "more favourable" at Q10) Why do you say that? Base: 218
| % | |
|---|---|
| SNP is Scottish party/for Scotland/has Scotland at heart | 29 |
| Like SNP policies on power for Scotland/Scottish independence/Assembly/devolution | 16 |
| Just like the SNP better | 14 |
| Something new/different/change | 10 |
| Like other SNP policy/policies | 8 |
| Dislike Labour Party more | 5 |
| Like SNP candidates/leaders | 3 |
| Dislike Conservative Party more | 2 |
| Dislike unspecified other party/parties more | 2 |
| Other reasons | 19 |
| Don't know | 3 |
Q12 (If "less favourable" at Q10) Why do you say that? Base: 123
| % | |
|---|---|
| Lack of/dissatisfied with SNP policies | 38 |
| Just like SNP less | 21 |
| Satisfaction with Government/Labour Party's policy on Scottish Assembly/devolution | 6 |
| More satisfaction with other parties | 5 |
| Satisfaction with Government/Labour Party's policy on prices | 2 |
| Satisfaction with other Government/Labour Party's policies | 2 |
| Satisfaction with Government/Labour Party's policy on unemployment | 0 |
| Other | 18 |
| Don't know | 14 |
Q13 Which party did you vote for in the last General Election in October 1974? If you did not vote at the last election or you can't remember which party you voted for please say so.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 22 |
| Labour | 38 |
| Scottish Labour Party | * |
| Liberal | 2 |
| SNP | 18 |
| Other party | * |
| Did not vote | 16 |
| Refused | 2 |
| Don't know/can't remember | 3 |
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