How Scotland should be governed
Before the Scottish independence referendum, some believed the vote would finally resolve the issue of how Scotland should be governed. However, interest in this perennial question has continued, with the UK Parliament legislating for further devolution and some on the Yes side calling for a second referendum on independence.
This section contains the answers to survey questions that address how Scotland should be governed, apart from those that ask specifically about voting intentions in the Scottish independence referendum.
Before the Scottish independence referendum, some believed the vote would finally resolve the issue of how Scotland should be governed. However, interest in this perennial question has continued, with the UK Parliament legislating for further devolution and some on the Yes side calling for a second referendum on independence. This section contains the answers to survey questions that address how Scotland should be governed, apart from those that ask specifically about voting intentions in the Scottish independence referendum.Popular questions on this topic:
- How would you vote in a Scottish independence referendum if held now? (asked after the EU referendum)
24 June 2016 - 18 January 2023, data from Scotland - If there was a referendum tomorrow with the question Should Scotland remain in the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?, how would you vote?
9 November 2018 - 1 January 2023, data from Scotland - If a referendum asked you to choose between supporting Scotland becoming an independent country, keeping things as they are currently or favouring further significant devolution which would you select?
19 January 2021 - 22 January 2021, data from Scotland - How should Scotland be governed? (five response categories collapsed to three)
7 May 1999 - 24 October 2021, data from Scotland - How should Scotland be governed? (five options)
7 May 1999 - 24 October 2021, data from Scotland - Does the handling of the coronavirus crisis by Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government make you feel more or less confident that Scotland will be well-governed if it becomes an independent country?
1 June 2020 - 5 June 2020, data from Scotland - Which institution ought to have most influence over how Scotland is run?
7 May 1999 - 27 March 2022, data from Scotland - Where would you place yourself on a scale between the statements ‘I completely support Scotland becoming independent’ and ‘I completely support Scotland staying part of the UK’?
24 February 2017 - 26 November 2020, data from Scotland - How pleased or upset would you be if Scotland left the UK and became an independent country?
19 January 2021 - 17 August 2022, data from Scotland - How should Scotland be governed?
26 October 2011 - 19 October 2012, data from Scotland
Latest Comment on this topic:
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Support for Independence
22nd November 2022
How Much of a Challenge Do Labour Pose to the SNP?
10th October 2022
How The Constitutional Question Has Become More Divisive
22nd September 2022
The Monarchy and The Union: A Symbiotic Relationship?
12th September 2022
Scottish Labour – Challenges and Opportunities
4th March 2022
Latest questions on this topic:
- Should the UK Government follow the example of Spain and make it illegal for Scotland to hold a referendum in order to try and declare independence?
- Would it be dangerous to give Nicola Sturgeon powers to run a devolved and separate Scottish Foreign policy?
- Was Rishi Sunak right to block the Scottish Parliament’s gender recognition act on the grounds that it impacted equality laws in Britain?
- Which of the following ought to have the most influence over the way Scotland is run: the Scottish Government, UK Government or local councils?
10 January 2023 - 12 January 2023, data from Scotland - If Scotland becomes an independent country should it be a republic with an elected head of state or should it keep King Charles as Head of State?
12 December 2022 - 16 December 2022, data from Scotland - Do you support or oppose the following: ‘the ability of an institution to block the UK Parliament from legislating in devolved areas without the consent of the Scottish Parliament’?
16 December 2022 - 21 December 2022, data from Scotland