Support for Independence has dropped since the Bermuda Independence Commission published its report on the topic, a new poll reveals.

The November telephone poll found that 16 percent of people quizzed backed the idea of breaking ties with Britain.

That compared to nearly 19 percent in favour of Independence on the eve of the BIC report hitting the streets in September ? and to 28 percent in the summer.

The findings of the latest Research Innovations telephone poll of 402 people ? contacted between November 5 and 10 ? also show that the anti-Independence lobby is still in the ascendancy, after weeks of heated debate on the merits of the 600-page BIC report. Pollsters found 66.3 percent of participants opposed the idea of national Independence, compared to a similar 66.9 percent figure in the last survey in September.

The new poll also revealed a total of 17.7 percent had still not made up their minds on the hot topic.

Opposition to Independence has remained close to 65 percent in the last seven Research Innovation polls in the past 12 months.

But support for sovereignty has veered from 21.4 percent last November, to 15.7 percent in March through to 28 percent in August.

A breakdown of the latest statistics shows there is still a gender gap on the issue: 22.1 percent of males who took part backed an independent Bermuda, while 58.8 percent opposed it. Of 202 women polled, 9.9 percent backed the change, while 73.8 stood against it.

In terms of racial groups, 24 percent of 229 blacks polled supported Independence, 56.3 percent opposed and 19.7 were not sure.

Meanwhile, a total of just 3.7 percent of the 134 whites questioned backed sovereignty plans, with 79.9 percent opposed and 16.4 percent unsure.

In the last poll in September, 52.2 percent of the black population were against cutting ties with the UK, compared to 26.3 percent who in favour. And 89.8 percent of whites lined up against the idea, with only 4.7 percent in favour.

November?s poll shows that the majority of both poorer and richer Bermudians remain conservative and against going it alone.

A total of 69.9 percent of the 73 people on a household income of less than $50,000 said they were against the idea; while at the other end of the spectrum, 64.9 percent of the 77 people with a household income of more than $100,000 also preferred to stick with the status quo.

In terms of age, 16.1 percent of the 87 people aged between 18 and 35 were in favour of an independent Bermuda, compared to 72.4 percent opposed.

In the 36-54 group, 59 percent of the 173 quizzed were against autonomy, with 15.6 percent in favour.

Older residents, aged 55-plus, were against severing ties with Britain. Of the140 people who took part, 16.4 percent said they liked the idea of a stand-alone Bermuda, while 71.4 percent said no.

The poll has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.