To understand how devolution is currently perceived by the public, both in areas with devolution and in areas without devolution, we co-commissioned a poll on the issue with the Milbank Think Tank. The poll consisted of 1567 adults within Great Britain and was carried out by Deltapoll. The fieldwork for this poll was carried out between the 13th and the 17th of April 2023.
The poll asked the question: “Please think about the devolution of powers from the Westminster Parliament to other political institutions across the UK. For each of the following political institutions, do you think the powers currently devolved to it have gone too far, are about right, or not gone far enough?” . Included in the separate answers was also a section looking at a hypothetical system of “Regional Assemblies in England which some people want to be brought into existence” to further understand the views of the public on devolution in England.
The poll results will be broken down and analysed within the next few pages. When looking at these polls the results only show respondents in the areas affected, for instance we only show the results from Scottish respondents to questions about the Scottish Parliament. In short, the poll shows widespread support for the current devolution settlement and signs of support for further devolution in some areas of the UK, especially in Scotland. They also show in most areas there is little opposition to devolution in its current form. In short, the poll shows widespread support for the current devolution settlement and signs of support for further devolution in some areas of the UK, especially in Scotland. They also show in most areas there is little opposition to devolution in its current form.
Below is the overall support for devolution across diffrent areas of the UK. This includes those who support greater devolution within an area and those who support the current devolved settlement within an area.
As part of the poll respondents were asked whether devolved powers would be too far, not far enough, or about right for Regional Assemblies in England which some people want to be brought into existence. 29.75% of respondents said that this was about right. Support for these assemblies is consistent across England with high levels of support in the Midlands and the North, with the strongest level of support in London.
In this section we break down the results of our polling to understand what groups support or oppose devolution. 16.75% of people said that it does not go far enough. However, 42.75% of people are still undecided on English assemblies.
The respondents polled in England showed strong support for Metro Mayors as 38.5% of respondents said their powers were about right.
In this section we break down the results of our polling to understand what groups support or oppose devolution. 15.75% of respondents thought that devolution to metro mayors has not gone far enough whilst 13.75% believe it has gone too far. 32.25% of people, however, are undecided on the issue. Whilst there is support for Metro Mayors across the UK, support is strongest in the Midlands and London, whilst support is lowest in the rest of the south.
In Scotland the public supports further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament with 40% of respondents saying that devolution to the Parliament has not gone far enough.
In this section we break down the results of our polling to understand what groups support or oppose devolution. It is clear that the issue has divided opinion very clearly with 30% of respondents saying that devolution has gone too far whilst 21% of respondents said its powers were about right. The proportion of respondents who said “don’t know” stands at just 9%, the lowest in the UK.
Wales is happy with the powers the Senedd currently holds, with 41% of respondents saying that its powers were “about right” .
In this section we break down the results of our polling to understand what groups support or oppose devolution. 26% of respondents wanted to see its powers expanded whilst 21% of people think its powers have gone too far.
Opinion in London is divided with 28% of respondents thinking that this level of devolution is about right whilst 28% of respondents think this devolution has gone too far.
In this section we break down the results of our polling to understand what groups support or oppose devolution. 24% of respondents think that devolution to London has not gone far enough with another 19% selecting don’t know.