Support for Welsh independence has climbed to 19%, according to an opinion poll conducted by the universities of Cardiff and Edinburgh.

Previous ‘yes’ or ‘no’ polling on the question carried out by the BBC/ICM last year suggested that only 7% backed the idea of Welsh independence.

‘The Future of England Study’ from the Universities of Cardiff and Edinburgh showed that while 19% agreed that Wales should be independent, 65% disagreed and 16% didn’t know.

34% of Plaid Cymru voters and 23% of Labour voters wanted an independent Wales, while only 11% of Lib Dems and 5% of Conservatives did.

The poll was conducted between 30th May and 6th June 2018.

It also showed that 47% of people in Wales considered themselves Welsh first, compared with 34% who considered themselves British first and 10% English first.

Exactly 50% of the survey’s respondents thought Wales got less than their fair share of government spending compared with the rest of the UK.

Only 18% believed Wales got its fair share, and 7% that the nation got more than its fair share. 25% didn’t know.

In comparison, 41% of people in Wales thought England got more than its fair share on spending.

The opinion poll also revealed that the majority of people in England didn’t want their taxes to pay for services in Wales.

Only 48% agreed that revenue raised from taxpayers in England should also be distributed to Wales to help support Welsh public services, with 58% believing it should only be spent in England.

Despite this, only 14% of people in England believed Wales should become an independent country, while 23% of Scots agreed that Wales should be independent.

What worries Wales?

The poll also suggests that it is the subject of health provision and Brexit that most worries people in Wales. 55% of respondents ticked these options when asked to select their top three important issues.

38% ticked immigration and asylum and 35% the economy.

24% selected crime,18% international terrorism, 14% education and 13% the environment.