Scots and English think the same on Brexit, says survey
New blow for Sturgeon’s push for independence
‘It’s time for the SNP to listen’
NICOLA Sturgeon’s independence dream has been dealt a blow by a report that reveals the Brexit views of Scottish voters reflect those in England.
A survey has shown that, despite Scotland voting ‘very differently’ to the rest of the UK in the EU referendum, ‘attitudes towards Brexit are notable for their similarity’ to those south of the Border ‘rather than for their difference’.
Miss Sturgeon has repeatedly demanded another poll following the EU referendum in 2016, claiming the divide between Scotland and England on Brexit-related issues is significant.
But according to the report by politics expert Professor John Curtice, twothirds of Scots have rejected the SNP’s calls for powers over immigration and trade to be handed to the Scottish Government.
The research, carried out by Nat Cen Social Research, showed 63 per cent of voters believe rules over immigration should remain reserved to Westminster, and 67 per cent said trade laws should also remain at a UK level.
The report by Professor Curtice – senior research fellow at Scot Cen, the Scottish arm of the independent social research centre – also found only 24 per cent of Scots think it should be easier for people to move here from EU nations than elsewhere.
The research revealed 62 per cent of Scots think decisions on fishing should be made by the Scottish Government once powers have been repatriated from Brussels, with 59 per cent believing the same for farming.
The survey, based on interviews with 859 Scots last October, concluded that despite Miss Sturgeon’s push for continued membership of the single market, ‘most voters are not keen’. The f i ndings also f ailed to ‘detect any evidence of increased support f or i ndependence’ following the Brexit vote.
Professor Curtice said: ‘ Our results suggest that both the UK and the Scottish Government may need to do some rethinking of their plans for post-Brexit Scotland.
‘The UK Government’s proposal that EU responsibilities for devolved areas such as fish- ing and farming should be given to Westminster appears to be out of tune with the public mood north of the Border.
‘Equally, the Scottish Government appears to have made little headway in persuading voters Scotland should have a closer relationship with the EU post-Brexit. Most still think the rules on EU trade and immigration should be the same in Scotland as in the rest of the UK.’
Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: ‘ This report exposes how utterly out of touch the SNP has become. Most people in Scotland know it makes common sense for decisions on immigration and trade with the EU to be the same across the UK.
‘Unlike the SNP, they know none of the questions raised by our departure from the EU are answered by breaking up our own union of nations. Nicola Sturgeon has tried relentlessly to use Brexit to break up the UK. It’s clear, however, that people entirely reject her plans.
‘It’s time for the SNP to listen to the people of Scotland. They want the UK and Scottish Governments to get on and deliver the best possible Brexit deal for all of Scotland and the UK.’
Brexit Minister Mike Russell said: ‘The Scottish Government believes that continued membership of the EU is the best option for Scotland and the rest of the UK.
‘We will continue to make the case for Scotland and the rest of the UK remaining in the single market and customs union and we will shortly set out the economic case for this.’