National identity plays a key role in voters’ views on Europe

How British people define their national identity will influence voting patterns in the May 2014 European Parliament elections, producing widely differing outcomes across the UK, research suggests.

A study shows that the UK Independence Party’s (UKIP) electoral appeal is much stronger in England than in Scotland or Wales, with Scots significantly more in favour of staying in the European Union than voters in England.

The research has been carried out by the Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change at the University of Edinburgh, working with Cardiff University and the think tank, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). It was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

• Primary Source

Website: Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change http://www.futureukandscotland.ac.uk/projects/research-centre

ESO: Background information: European Parliament election, 2014 (United Kingdom) [UK and the European elections 2014] http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-2014-united-kingdom-uk-and-the-european-elections-2014/

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