Older voters reject second indyref, poll reveals

A MAJORITY of older voters would reject independence in a second referendum, a new poll suggests.

Support for staying part of the UK stands at 70% among the over 60s, with 30% backing independence, the Survation poll found.

The survey contrasts with an Ipsos MORI poll for STV published last week, which found that Scots are split 50/50 on the issue.

A total of 1,010 voters over the age of 60 were questioned by Survation between March 3 and 9.

The participants were asked how they would vote if there was another poll tomorrow with the question: ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’. Excluding undecideds, 30% said Yes and 70% said No.

A poll of pensioners from last March for the same newspaper showed 64.4% backed No and 35.6% backed Yes.

A second independence referendum has been described as “highly likely” by Nicola Sturgeon if the move to formally trigger Brexit happens without any special arrangements for Scotland.

The majority of Scots rejected Brexit in the EU referendum last year.

Ms Sturgeon’s popularity among older voters was also down, Survation found. The First Minister had a favourability score of minus 14, down from minus one last year.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister scored 12, behind Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson on 20.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale scored minus 15, while the poll results make grim reading for her UK counterpart Jeremy Corbyn, trailing with a score of minus 58.