Poll reveals new high in the number of residents who want to keep ties with UK
Opposition to Independence reached a new height after the Queen's visit to the Island last November.
Seventy-four percent of people now do not want to break ties with the UK, according to a Research.bm survey carried out in early January, up from 66 percent last October.
It represents the highest proportion of the Country giving Independence the thumbs down since Research.bm began polling for The Royal Gazette two years ago.
Twenty percent said they were in favour of splitting from Britain, down from 24 percent, with six percent unsure.
Thousands of residents lined the streets to cheer the Queen as she toured Bermuda two months ago to mark the 400th anniversary of the settlement of the Island.
At that time, Premier Ewart Brown acknowledged the overwhelmingly positive reception but insisted it did not amount to a snub of his wish for Independence.
The Island's relationship with the UK has been in the spotlight since Dr. Brown brought four former Guantánamo Bay prisoners to the Island without permission from Governor Sir Richard Gozney last June.
Some observers say that while the move improved Bermuda's relationship with the United States, the fact Dr. Brown antagonised Britain set back the push for Independence by years.
The 1968 General Entrustment was rewritten in December, tightening the rules by which Bermuda has to report back to the UK on its activities.
Young people remain the most firmly against Independence, with 87 percent of the 18 to 24 age bracket opposing it, along with 80 percent of the 25 to 34 age group.
Dr. Brown has repeatedly expressed his frustration at the younger generation's stance on the issue, saying in many other countries 18 to 34-year-olds have spearheaded Independence drives.
But young people point to a number of benefits from the status quo, such as subsidised tuition fees from the UK.
A breakdown of this month's poll by race shows 97 percent of whites are against, with three percent in favour; 57 percent of blacks are against, with 32 percent in favour and 11 percent unsure.
The telephone poll of 432 residents took place from January 6 to January 9 and has a 4.9 percent margin of error.
