Scots’ dislike of PM risks shattering Union

Boris Johnson has caused recent surge in backing for new independence referendum, claims poll

SCOTTISH voters’ “loathing” for Boris Johnson is the main factor behind the recent surge in support for independence, according to new analysis. A poll by JL Partners conducted last month found 56 per cent support for separation with 44 per cent against, in line with a series of similar surveys.

It also found that the most persuasive argument for independence was “Boris Johnson is not the leader I want to have for my country”, a sentiment that 79 per cent of swing voters agreed with.

Other factors were Brexit, the UK Government’s handling of the pandemic and a desire to settle the independence question once and for all.

Jamie Johnson, who leads JL Partners and was Theresa May’s pollster, said that focus groups of Scottish voters showed that Mr Johnson was “loathed” in a way that she or David Cameron were not. He told the Politico website: “It is hard not to look at these figures and assume the Union is doomed.”

The poll found that 84 per cent of swing voters think the UK Government has handled the pandemic badly, compared with 74 per cent who say the Scottish Government handled it well. This is despite Scotland, along with England and Wales, having one of the highest excess death rates in Europe.

The most persuasive argument for staying in the UK among swing voters was “an independent Scotland is a step into the unknown”, a statement 69 per cent agreed with. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Tory leader, were the most popular Conservative figures north of the Border. Mr Sunak’s +30 net rating among swing voters was even higher than the Queen’s. Among senior Labour figures, Sir Keir Starmer, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling were viewed most favourably by undecided voters.

The poll also showed that Nicola Sturgeon is on course for a landslide win in next May’s Holyrood election, with 58 per cent support for the SNP in the constituency vote compared with only 19 per cent for the Tories and 13 per cent for Labour.

She has said she will use the contest to seek a mandate for another independence referendum, placing huge pressure on the Prime Minister to hand her the powers to stage another vote.

The poll was published amid claims of panic in Downing Street, with some Tories believing that refusing a mandate won in a democratic election would play into Ms Sturgeon’s hands.

Keith Brown, the SNP’S deputy leader, said: “People in Scotland believe they have the right to take their own decisions rather than being subject to Westminster, led by the likes of Boris Johnson, that we don’t vote for.”

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “In the middle of a global pandemic, the last thing Scotland needs is a second divisive independence referendum.”

A UK Government spokesman said: “We’ve always been clear, Scotland had a once-in-a-generation independence referendum in 2014 and people voted decisively to remain in the UK. This should be respected.”