against Independence, according to a leaked opinion poll.

The same poll also shows the vote was doomed to failure as three-quarters of UBP supporters were against Independence.

Penn and Schoen Associates carried out a Survey of Bermuda Voter Attitudes Towards Independence, questioning people in April, July and August -- just a few days before the vote.

On Wednesday the country went to the polls and overwhelmingly rejected the chance of severing links with Britain.

A total of 22,236 people registered their votes and 73.7 percent, or 16,369, voted no with only 5,714 voting in favour of Independence. Premier, the Hon.

Sir John Swan has confirmed he will quit.

Leader of the PLP, Mr. Frederick Wade claimed a success in his abstention call and was given credit for influencing the vote by the Transport Minister, the Hon. Maxwell Burgess.

However, yesterday the results of the Penn and Schoen survey were leaked to The Royal Gazette and reveal the vote was doomed to failure as long ago as last April.

It shows that in April, 47 percent of PLP supporters questioned were against Independence with the number growing to 50 percent in July and 51 percent just before the Referendum.

Among UBP supporters, 81 percent of those questioned in April were against Independence, 83 percent in July and 72 percent before the vote.

Only a fifth of UBP supporters quizzed before the vote wanted Independence and 32 percent of PLP supporters questioned agreed with Independence.

Last night Mr. Wade said he still believed the abstention campaign had been successful.

"As to why PLP supporters said they were against Independence may be because of the way the questioned was framed. It could be they were against Independence now and not against Independence period.'' "People were not happy with the way Independence was being put to them and were unhappy that the Government had no plans.'' Poll was doomed -- survey From Page 1 Other survey results show that when Sir John Swan said he would resign in the event of a "no'' vote, only nine percent of those questioned said it would make them vote for Independence.

Seventeen percent said it would make them more likely to vote "no'' and 71 percent said it had no effect.

Bermuda's white population was heavily opposed to Independence, according to the opinion poll. In April 89 percent were against, in July 90 percent and in August 88 percent.

A majority of the black population also favoured staying a dependent territory. In April 51 percent wanted to remain a colony, 52 percent in July and 51 percent in August.

Overall, those for Independence remained fairly static at 22 percent, 22 and 24 percent over the three periods. In the end 25.6 percent of the vote cast was in favour of the move.

Those against also remained static at 65 percent, 65 percent and 63 percent.

The "no'' vote in the end, however, was more than 73 percent.

Of those saying they would vote against Independence, people were more and more determined to register a "no'' vote the closer the Referendum came.

Those saying they would definitely vote against increased from 62 percent in April to 86 percent in August.