Indyref2 anger sidestepped by Sturgeon as her popularity plummets
● SNP candidate insists election is not about independence ● First Minister accused of being in ‘ denial’ about constitution
Ni cola Sturgeon has sidestepped claims that the prospect of a second independence referendum is behind a dramatic fall in her personal popularity in Scotland.
It came as an SNP candidate in the Lot hi ans took out an advert in his local paper proclaiming that the election is not about independence – just days after the party’s manifesto launch when Ms Sturgeon said victor y on 8 June would give her a “triple lo ck” mandate for indyref2.
An Ipsos Mori poll this week found Ms Sturgeon’s personal popularity was down 18 points to minus four. It makes her the most unpopular Scottish leader, behind Tory leader Ruth Davidson on plus 6, although this was also down 25 points.
Ms Sturgeon declined to say if this was down to demands for a second referendum when asked directly about this on the campaign trail yesterday.
“I’m focussed on the S NP winning the election – as long as the SNP stays ahead and the we win the election, that’s what I’m focused on,” she said.
Asked if she was “surprised or disappointed” by the slide inher popularity, she said: “We’ re inan election campaign and what matters to me is that the SNP wins the election and the SNP are the best part of 20 points ahead if our nearest rivals so we will continue to campaign and get our message across and work for a victory.”
The poll did show that the S NP was on course for a resounding win, taking up to 50 of Scotland’s 59 seats with 43 per cent support.
But support for independence has dipped, with 47 per cent of Scots telling the Ipsos Mori they would vote Yes, after their previous poll had this at 50 per cent
The SNP candidate in East Lothian, George Kere van, yesterday took out an advert in local newspaper the East Lothian Courier stating: “This election is NOT about in dependence.”
The constituency is Labour’s top target in Scotland and the part y said yesterday that the resounding message from voters on the doorstep – in an area which voted No to inde - pendence in 2014 – is that Scots want to“move on” from the constitution.
The advert came just two days after Ms Sturgeon launched the SNP manifesto which stated that an SNP victor y would give her a “triple lock” mandatefor another vote on leaving the UK – after last year’s Scottish election win and the vote at Holyrood for a second referendum earlier this year.
Scottish Labour general election campaign manager James Kelly said: “Nicola Sturgeon is clearly in denial.
“Her obsession with a divisive second independence referendum has infuriated the majority of Scots who want to move on from the arguments ofthe past. Our health and education services are in crisis and voters are clearly telling Ni cola Sturgeons he needs to get back to the day job.
“Labouris the only party that can defeat the SNP in the majority of seats in Scotland next week.”
The SNP leader said Theresa May is still on course to win on 8 June, but suggested the size of the Tory majority could come dow n to the outcome in Scotland urged voters not to throw the Prime Minister a “lifeline”.
“Scotland is really finding itself in a potentially pivotal position in this election,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“We’ve seen Theresa May exposed as a weak and evasive Prime Minister who can’ t even answerqu estions about the impact of her own cuts on pensioners and hard- working families. As the polls narrow across the rest of the UK, yes t he Tories might still be on track to win this election, but whether or not they increase their majority could come down to the outcome in Scotland.
“That givesScotland a choice – do we send Tor y MPS to be rubber stamps for what Theresa May wants to do or do we take the opportunity to keep the Tories in check and elect SNP MPS who will st and up for Scotland.”