Page "Politics of the United Kingdom" Paragraph 60

Alex Salmond ( leader of SNP ) has since made history by becoming the first First Minister of Scotland from a party other than Labour.

The SNP govern as a minority administration at Holyrood.

Nevertheless, recent opinion polls have suggested that nationalism ( i. e., a desire to break up the UK ) is rising within Scotland and England.

However, the polls have been known to be inaccurate in the past ( for example, in the run up to the 1992 General Election ).

Moreover, polls carried out in the 1970s and the 1990s showed similar results, only to be debunked at elections.

While support for breaking up the UK was strongest in Scotland, there was still a clear lead for unionism over nationalism.

However, an opinion poll in April 2008 suggested the result of any referendum on Scottish independence could be close as support for independence had reached 41 % with just 40 % supporting retention of the Union.