The 2023 State of the Union survey examines attitudes towards constitutional issues in the UK
New research reveals the differing attitudes to potential Irish unification held among the English, the Scots and the Welsh. Photograph: iStockIn the past, research has tested the waters about opinions in Great Britain taken as a whole towards Irish unification. Now, however, new research sheds light on the differing attitudes held about such an outcome among the English, the Scots and the Welsh separately.
Asked if Northern Ireland should unite with the Republic, Scots placed themselves at 1.9 on the positive side of the scale, England came in at 0.9, Wales at 0.6, even with those polled in Northern Ireland at 0.6 on the positive scale in favour. “The balance in England and Wales is negative towards independence for Scotland and about independence for their own territories. What is noteworthy about attitudes to NI, however, is that everyone in England, Scotland and Wales is above the midpoint about its future,” she says, emphasising the word “everyone”.
“The idea that a majority in three nations in a multi-state union with varying levels of intensity favour the departure of the fourth nation in that union is highly unusual,” says Richard Wyn Jones, professor of Welsh politics and director of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre. “We take the UK seriously as a four-nation state. We need to be slightly cautious about whether attitudes are developing. We can’t tell you what was going on five years ago, or 10 years ago.
The political controversy in London over recent years about the post-Brexit landscape perfectly mirrors attitudes held by a majority in England and Wales and, to a lesser extent, Scotland about the future of NI, says Wyn Jones.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ireland 36 Scotland 0 (FT) - England win U20s Six Nations crown despite Irish victoryIreland needed France to do them a favour against England in Pau but the visitors run out 14-point victors in an impressive display
Read more »
Ireland power past Scotland but denied U20 Six Nations title by EnglandScotland show grit to frustrate for much of the contest but Ireland score four tries in the final quarter to add gloss to the scoreline
Read more »
Ireland v Scotland: How the Irish players rated at the AvivaRobbie Henshaw, Jamison Gibson-Park and Andrew Porter stand out in what was not a vintage display
Read more »
Irish ex-Italy international's joyous celebrations as Azzurri beat ScotlandHe was on punditry duty for Virgin Media as the Azzurri defeated Scotland 31-29
Read more »
Ireland team selection for Six Nations decider against ScotlandAndy Farrell is expected to make an emphatic statement with his Ireland team to face Scotland in Saturday’s Six Nations decider in Dublin. Farrell will confirm his Ireland team selection on Thursday afternoon (around 2pm) ahead of the Saturday afternoon (4:45pm kick-off) at Aviva Stadium. Ireland are four points clear of England, their nearest title challengers while France and Scotland are in the long, long-shot category., at Twickenham. Standing in Ireland’s way of back-to-back titles are Gregor Townsend’s Scotland, who have beaten England and Wales but lost to France and Italy.
Read more »
O'Driscoll on 'sign of a good team' despite 'un-Irish performance' v EnglandIreland lead 12-8 at the break as the result of some brilliant kicking from Jack Crowley as they chased back-to-back Grand Slams
Read more »