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© UnknownAdvisor to BBC poll, Professor Roger Scully, expresses surprise over misconstrued results
BBC Wales has misled the public with claims that support for Welsh independence has reached record low-levels.

The best spin you could put on the way they have covered the findings of the ICM/BBC Wales poll is terrible journalism.

Otherwise, you would have to conclude that BBC Wales, an organisation which promotes British nationalism, has deliberately presented a factually incorrect statement designed to mislead.

The claim made by BBC Wales in its coverage of an ICM survey was:
"Support for Welsh independence has fallen to its lowest recorded level in the wake of the Scottish referendum, according to a poll for BBC Wales.

"The survey, carried out days after Scotland voted "No", found 3% wanted Wales to be independent."
But it doesn't show that only three percent support independence. The people surveyed were responding to a multiple choice question with seven different options.

The specific wording was this:
Which of these statements comes closest to your view?

The answer options are then:

- Wales should become independent, separate from the UK
- The Welsh Assembly should have more powers than it currently has
- The powers it currently has are sufficient and should remain as it is now
- The Welsh Assembly should have fewer powers than it currently has
- The Assembly should be abolished and Wales governed directly from Westminster
- None of these
- Don't Know
So the survey results found that 49 percent opted for 'more powers' and three percent selected the 'separate from the UK' option.

But it's factually incorrect to suggest that those wanting more powers were also rejecting Welsh independence.

Without providing any timeframe, even the most ardent of independence supporter is liable to see 'more powers' as the most practical immediate option.

The way BBC Wales chose to present this information has even caused a raised eyebrow from the polling expert who provided them with guidance.

Professor Roger Scully of the Welsh Governance Centre supplied advice on the wording for the various poll questions. He expressed surprise at the way BBC Wales presented the data as a negative story about Welsh independence.

He said:
"I was slightly surprised to see the emphasis on the fall in support for independence, given that it was only a change within the margin of error from their last poll (5% down to 3%).

"I thought the story was really in the 49% supporting more powers, and the details on which more powers are being supported. But that's a matter for the BBC."
It is worth noting that as well as advising BBC Wales on the poll, Professor Scully was also the academic chosen to provide the analysis.