After numerous meetings on the subject, support for Independence has gone up by five percent ? but it still remains deeply unpopular.

In every single demographic ? including race, income and gender ? those wanting to stick with Britain outweigh those wanting to split.

The latest poll shows 20.1 percent support Bermuda self-rule ? up from 15.7 percent two months ago while those opposed remain steady at 65 percent for the third poll running.

The number of ?don?t knows? has fallen slightly from 18.9 percent to 14.4 percent.

Support for deciding the matter by referendum has gone up by nearly six points to 71.8 percent ? its highest showing this year ? while support for doing it via election has gone down slightly for the third poll running. Just 17.7 percent of those polled favour this method.

The poll of 403 people was conducted by Research Innovations via telephone from May 13 to 20. The margin of error is 4.9 percent.

Support for Independence is highest among blacks with 28.9 percent supporting a split from Britain but nearly 50 percent of blacks are opposed with 22 percent still undecided.

Going it alone finds favour with just 4.6 percent of whites, while an overwhelming 92.3 are opposed and just 3.1 percent have yet to decide.

Support for Independence is highest among those on lower incomes but the margin is not that different from top earners.

Just over 25 percent of those earning less than $50,000 a year support Independence while nearly 19 percent of those earning more than $100,000 support the idea.

Surprisingly young people are even more conservative than older people, with less than 15 percent of those under age 35 backing autonomy compared to nearly 25 percent of those over age 55.

Men are slightly more keen on Independence than women.

The issue of Independence has been discussed at numerous public meetings run by the Bermuda Independence Commission, which is due to issue a report to Cabinet within the next few weeks.

Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons said the rise in support for Independence is not material since it is still within the margin of error.

?What people are telling me is that Independence is not something we should be pursuing at this time because clearly there are other areas which are much more important in affecting people?s lives.?

He said there is real concern over violent crime, housing and seniors.

Supporters of Independence take comfort from the fact there has been no crusade by the Government or the PLP in support and hope that a campaign, now being planned, will boost the cause.

Progressive Labour Party spokesman Scott Simmons said his party has always believed that when the subject of Independence is discussed support will rise but he denied being disappointed it has only risen slightly.

He said: ?We realise things are done in a timely manner in Bermuda and, whatever the people of Bermuda decide, I believe the party will be satisfied.

?We are interested in making sure people understand Independence and its connection to them. We want the process to be open and direct.?