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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Welsh firmly back Britain's Union | Welsh firmly back Britain's Union |
| (18 days later) | |
| There is strong support for Wales remaining part of Great Britain, according to a survey for the BBC. | There is strong support for Wales remaining part of Great Britain, according to a survey for the BBC. |
| Nearly 70% of people in Wales said they wanted to keep the Union as it is with 20% being in favour of independence. | Nearly 70% of people in Wales said they wanted to keep the Union as it is with 20% being in favour of independence. |
| The BBC Wales/Newsnight poll found 48% thought Wales would lose financially by splitting from England and Scotland whilst 14% believed it would benefit. | The BBC Wales/Newsnight poll found 48% thought Wales would lose financially by splitting from England and Scotland whilst 14% believed it would benefit. |
| The telephone survey marks the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union which brought the three countries together. | The telephone survey marks the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union which brought the three countries together. |
| But 33% of respondents believed Wales' culture would be enhanced by a split, 13% thought it would be diminished. | But 33% of respondents believed Wales' culture would be enhanced by a split, 13% thought it would be diminished. |
| KEY WALES POLL FINDINGS 68% support the Union20% want independence48% think independence would damage Wales financially14% think independence would benefit Wales financiallySource: ORB telephone survey for BBC Wales/Newsnight | KEY WALES POLL FINDINGS 68% support the Union20% want independence48% think independence would damage Wales financially14% think independence would benefit Wales financiallySource: ORB telephone survey for BBC Wales/Newsnight |
| Support for the Union was strongest in England, where 74% of those surveyed wanted to keep it. | Support for the Union was strongest in England, where 74% of those surveyed wanted to keep it. |
| It was weakest in Scotland but 56% of Scots still wanted to remain British, with 32% wanting independence. | It was weakest in Scotland but 56% of Scots still wanted to remain British, with 32% wanting independence. |
| The 20% in favour in favour of independence in Wales is higher than in similar previous surveys, which have tended to hover around the 10 to 15% mark. | The 20% in favour in favour of independence in Wales is higher than in similar previous surveys, which have tended to hover around the 10 to 15% mark. |
| A good majority throughout Britain thought Wales, England and Scotland would remain together for at least another 50 years. | A good majority throughout Britain thought Wales, England and Scotland would remain together for at least another 50 years. |
| Fifthy seven per cent of people in Wales believed this to be the case. | Fifthy seven per cent of people in Wales believed this to be the case. |
| There was also considerable support throughout Britain for the creation of an English parliament, now that Wales and Scotland have devolution. | There was also considerable support throughout Britain for the creation of an English parliament, now that Wales and Scotland have devolution. |
| Sixty per cent of those surveyed in England wanted their own parliament, 52% of Scots and 48% of people in Wales wanted devolution for England. | Sixty per cent of those surveyed in England wanted their own parliament, 52% of Scots and 48% of people in Wales wanted devolution for England. |
| READ THE FINDINGS class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/16_01_07_union.pdf">Newsnight Act of Union poll [128KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | |
| Wales was united with England in the 16th Century but the full Union was completed 300 years ago when Scotland signed an Act of Union. | Wales was united with England in the 16th Century but the full Union was completed 300 years ago when Scotland signed an Act of Union. |
| The study follows claims by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain that the UK could be broken up by a coalition of Tories and nationalists. | The study follows claims by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain that the UK could be broken up by a coalition of Tories and nationalists. |
| Mr Hain said Plaid Cymru would damage Wales economically by pursuing independence while the Conservatives would harm the Union by cutting the role of Welsh MPs. | Mr Hain said Plaid Cymru would damage Wales economically by pursuing independence while the Conservatives would harm the Union by cutting the role of Welsh MPs. |
| Plaid and the Conservatives have accused Mr Hain of trying to scare people into voting Labour in May's Welsh assembly election. | Plaid and the Conservatives have accused Mr Hain of trying to scare people into voting Labour in May's Welsh assembly election. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The nationalists here in Wales and in Scotland like to see devolution in the context of autonomy within the EU Griff, Cardiff class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5243&edition=1">Send us your comments The telephone poll was carried out by Opinion Research Business for BBC Newsnight between 5-8 January. | |
| They surveyed 527 of adults in Wales, 883 in England and 543 in Scotland. | They surveyed 527 of adults in Wales, 883 in England and 543 in Scotland. |