Latest poll f indings deliver currency headache for Salmond

ALEX Salmond faces renewed calls to think again over an independent Scotland’s currency, after a poll showed overwhelming opposition in England to sharing the pound.

The Populus poll of more than 6,000 people across Britain found that 68 per cent of people in England – as well as 59 per cent of those in Wales – opposed an independent Scotland continuing to use the pound and retaining the Bank of England as its central bank following a Yes vote. It also revealed that the rest of Britain are desperate for Scotland to stay in the UK.

Ian Murray, Labour’s shadow business minister, said: ‘This poll adds to the overwhelming body of evidence that people in the UK do not support a currency union.

‘Continuing to use the pound is not just Alex Salmond’s decision and these results show he needs a plan B.’

The survey also showed that only 15 per cent of those in England and Wales wanted Scotland to leave the UK – while 55 per cent wanted the Union to continue.

However, the SNP claimed that the result was influenced by the question used, which explained that a currency union would mean the rest of the UK picking up part of the bailout bill if an independent Scotland suffered a financial crisis.

A spokesman for Finance Secretary John Swinney said: ‘Another poll conducted in the rest of the UK found that 71 per cent of people supported sharing the pound. The question asked here was clearly designed to paint a currency union in the most negative light possible.’

Out of 548 responses from Scots, 47 per cent hoped Scotland would stay in the UK, 40 per cent wanted to leave and 13 per cent did not know.