Scots want second Brexit vote
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MORE Scots than ever want the UK to remain part of the European Union, a major poll has found.
The biggest survey of Scots attitudes to Brexit since the referendum two years ago shows opposition to leaving the EU has strengthened and there is now overwhelming backing for a second vote on the outcome of negotiations.
A poll of almost 2000 people in Scotland – twice the normal size of surveys – by The People’s Vote campaign shows Scots would support staying in the European Union by a margin of 66 per cent to 34 per cent, when “don’t knows” are removed.
That shows an increase on the referendum result of two years ago where Scottish voters were split 62 per cent to 38 per cent for Remain over Leave. Asked if they want a public vote on the outcome of Brexit negotiations, 48 per cent of voters said they did, compared with just 31 per cent who were opposed, according to the results of the massive YouGov poll.
Another YouGov survey covering the whole of the UK last week showed the People’s Vote is supported by 45 per cent of the public, with 34 per cent against it.
Polling expert Peter Kellner said the results pile pressure on the leaderships of the SNP and Labour in Holyrood and Westminster to take a stronger stance on Brexit.
Kellner said: “There may be an electoral dividend in Scotland for one of these parties if they strengthen their position.
“By a margin of three to one, Labour supporters want Jeremy Corbyn to campaign for a public vote while Nicola Sturgeon may yet want to move faster than she has in backing such a route on Brexit.”
Senior SNP figures have said they are “open” to the idea of a second vote on Brexit but have been warned off by other nationalists, who say it could set a precedent for reversing a vote in favour of independence.
Asked if Brexit will make independence more likely, 43 per cent agreed, with just six per cent saying it would make independence less likely.
But the majority of supporters in both parties are demanding a People’s Vote on the outcome of negotiations.
SNP voters want to stay in the EU by a margin of 83 per cent to 17 per cent, while they back a People’s Vote on Brexit by a margin of more than three to one (66 per cent to 18 per cent) after don’t knows have been removed.
Labour’s supporters in Scotland would vote to stay in the EU by a margin of 74 per cent to 26 per cent and support a People’s Vote by 64 per cent to 21 per cent.
Almost two-thirds of Scots voters, 65 per cent, say Theresa May’s Tories are ignoring Scotland’s concerns on Brexit, while 16 per cent disagree.
Distrust of Brexiteer politicians was further highlighted in a finding that 80 per cent believe “it is likely many of the promises made by politicians in favour of leaving the EU will be broken”.
Even 69 per cent of people who voted Leave two years ago agreed.
Scots’ pessimism was also underlined by a belief that Brexit will make the economy weaker (56 per cent agreed to 12 per cent who disagreed), the NHS worse (46 per cent to 12 per cent), and their own family poorer (49 per cent to seven per cent).