Indy vote poll blow for Sturgeon
Support for Scexit plummeting... and is now lower than in 2014
SCOTS have emphatically rejected a second independence referendum – days before Nicola Sturgeon is set to demand one.
New polling shows support for independence is falling, and has now dropped to just 44 per cent.
It reveals Scots do not want another Scexit vote for at least five years, with only 42 per cent backing one within that timeframe. The First Minister has promised to write to whoever is Prime Minister after Thursday’s Election to demand a Section 30 Order – which would pave the way for another referendum.
But last night, the Scottish Tories insisted it was time for her to put her plans for another separation bid in ‘cold storage’ – and get back to governing the country.
Almost all polls since the 2014 referendum have shown that a majority of Scots want to stay in the UK – and yesterday’s Times/ YouGov poll indicates that support for the Union is growing. Backing for independence has fallen five points since August and is now lower than in 2014.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of campaign group Scotland In Union, said: ‘This is yet another encouraging poll which shows that a majority of people in Scotland want to remain in the UK.
‘As the reality of separation becomes clearer – scrapping the pound, a hard border with England and deep public spending cuts – more and more people are backing Scotland’s positive future in the United Kingdom.
‘Voters are being turned off by the Nationalists’ negative inward-looking vision for Scotland.
‘The best future for Scotland is as part of the UK, growing our economy, investing in public services and preserving the bonds of solidarity with our families, friends and neighbours.’
Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said: ‘Two years ago, three-quarters of a million Scots gave their vote to the Conservatives to stop the SNP’s divisive second independence referendum.
‘By acting together, they won. They toppled Nationalist MPs off their perch and forced Nicola Sturgeon to put her
Indyref 2 plans on ice. This week, we need those 750,000 people to come together once more and tell her again.
‘This time we can put that referendum in the cold storage for good.
‘Pro-UK voters need to act as one. Jeremy Corbyn won’t stop her, only the Scottish Conservatives will do so.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: ‘Across the country we are finding people willing to lend their vote to the Lib Dems to stop another independence referendum.
‘You don’t have to love every single Liberal Democrat policy, you just have to be among the majority of Scots who look at the prospect of another referendum next year and say no thanks.’
Ms Sturgeon is hoping to prop up a minority Labour government at Westminster in return for another independence referendum.
Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out a vote only in the ‘formative years’ of a Labour government, but the SNP is confident this position will crumble if he needs Nationalist MPs to help him into Downing Street.
Despite this, yesterday’s poll found that only 32 per cent of respondents thought a Labour government would make independence more likely, with 33 per cent saying it would make ‘no real difference’.
It also revealed that many Scots would resort to violence to secure their preferred constitutional future.
The poll found 29 per cent of Yes voters thought ‘violent street protests’ would be a price worth paying for independence, with 28 per cent of No voters backing them in support of staying in the UK.
A further 26 per cent of Leavers thought violence would be ‘worth it’ to secure Brexit, with 29 per cent of Remainers backing the same in support of staying in the EU.
That is despite the 2016 murder of MP Jo Cox in Yorkshire, by a proBrexit British Nationalist, and a rise in threats against politicians of all sides by political opponents.
Ms Sturgeon made clear yesterday that she is ready to disregard Scots’ wishes to not have another referendum within the next five years.
She said: ‘Scotland cannot afford to live under more Westminster chaos for years and potentially decades – and we certainly cannot afford five years of Boris Johnson.
‘The people of Scotland can do better than Boris and Brexit – and on Thursday we should aim higher.
‘I am asking Scotland to unite behind the SNP to escape Brexit, protect the NHS and put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands – not Boris Johnson’s.’
‘Pro-UK voters need to act, Corbyn won’t stop her’