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Scottish independence: SNP calls for 'secret opinion poll' publication | Scottish independence: SNP calls for 'secret opinion poll' publication |
(35 minutes later) | |
The SNP has called for the publication of what it has described as a "secret" independence referendum poll which was commissioned by the UK government. | The SNP has called for the publication of what it has described as a "secret" independence referendum poll which was commissioned by the UK government. |
The nationalists believe the publicly-funded survey was buried as it showed a "surge" in support for independence. | The nationalists believe the publicly-funded survey was buried as it showed a "surge" in support for independence. |
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg responded by saying the only poll that counted was the one on 18 September. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg responded by saying the only poll that counted was the one on 18 September. |
Voters in Scotland will be asked the "yes/no" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | Voters in Scotland will be asked the "yes/no" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
SNP MP Angus MacNeil claimed in the Commons on Tuesday that the opinion poll was commissioned from Ipsos/Mori at a cost to the taxpayer of £46,500, | SNP MP Angus MacNeil claimed in the Commons on Tuesday that the opinion poll was commissioned from Ipsos/Mori at a cost to the taxpayer of £46,500, |
He urged Mr Clegg to publish it. | He urged Mr Clegg to publish it. |
The deputy prime minister told Mr MacNeil: "I've learnt to try and be a bit wary about opinion polls. | The deputy prime minister told Mr MacNeil: "I've learnt to try and be a bit wary about opinion polls. |
"The only poll that counts is the poll that's going to happen on September 18 and I very much hope, and I think people even like myself who don't have a vote, those of us south of the border, fervently hope the Scottish people will decide to remain part of the family of nations that makes up the United Kingdom. | "The only poll that counts is the poll that's going to happen on September 18 and I very much hope, and I think people even like myself who don't have a vote, those of us south of the border, fervently hope the Scottish people will decide to remain part of the family of nations that makes up the United Kingdom. |
"Because there is so much that we can do together that we simply cannot do apart and that's very much the argument that I hope will prevail on September 18." | "Because there is so much that we can do together that we simply cannot do apart and that's very much the argument that I hope will prevail on September 18." |
The call for the poll to be published was repeated by the SNP's Treasury spokesman, Stewart Hosie, on Wednesday - the day UK Chancellor George Osborne appears before the Scottish affairs committee at Westminster. | The call for the poll to be published was repeated by the SNP's Treasury spokesman, Stewart Hosie, on Wednesday - the day UK Chancellor George Osborne appears before the Scottish affairs committee at Westminster. |
He said: "George Osborne must agree to publish this secret poll - which has been paid for by the taxpayer. | He said: "George Osborne must agree to publish this secret poll - which has been paid for by the taxpayer. |
"We know the coalition have spent an eye watering £46,500 of public money on voting intentions in the referendum, and have now locked it up in a vault in Whitehall." | "We know the coalition have spent an eye watering £46,500 of public money on voting intentions in the referendum, and have now locked it up in a vault in Whitehall." |
The survey was revealed in a letter under the name Kelly Brown that was sent to a newspaper. The letter's author claimed to work for Ipsos/Mori, and said the results of the poll had been "buried as it returned a result which showed the Yes vote was soaring". | The survey was revealed in a letter under the name Kelly Brown that was sent to a newspaper. The letter's author claimed to work for Ipsos/Mori, and said the results of the poll had been "buried as it returned a result which showed the Yes vote was soaring". |
Ipsos/Mori has said that it does not employ anyone with the name Kelly Brown. | Ipsos/Mori has said that it does not employ anyone with the name Kelly Brown. |
The UK Cabinet Office said it was not usual practice to publish "internal research". | The UK Cabinet Office said it was not usual practice to publish "internal research". |
Mr Osborne will be joined by the Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, Sir Nicholas Macpherson, when he appears before the Scottish affairs committee. | Mr Osborne will be joined by the Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, Sir Nicholas Macpherson, when he appears before the Scottish affairs committee. |
The SNP is boycotting the committee, which is comprised of MPs from the three main pro-Union parties. | The SNP is boycotting the committee, which is comprised of MPs from the three main pro-Union parties. |
Earlier this year, Mr Osborne and the finance spokesmen for Labour and the Liberal Democrats ruled out a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK. | |
At the same time, senior civil servant Sir Nicholas made his advice on the topic public. | At the same time, senior civil servant Sir Nicholas made his advice on the topic public. |
The Scottish government said it wanted a monetary union with the rest of the UK in the event of a "Yes" vote in September's referendum. | The Scottish government said it wanted a monetary union with the rest of the UK in the event of a "Yes" vote in September's referendum. |
It believed that, regardless of what is said now by the three main UK parties, a deal would be struck if there was a vote in favour of independence. | It believed that, regardless of what is said now by the three main UK parties, a deal would be struck if there was a vote in favour of independence. |