More than half of Scots ‘do not want Indy ref’

MORE than half of Scots do not want another vote on independence to be held in the next few years, according to a poll.

The Panelbase survey of 1020 voters found 51 per cent are not supportive of a second referendum within the next year or two.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said another ballot on the issue is highly likely after the UK voted to leave the European Union despite a majority vote to remain north of the border.

The poll, carried out last week, found support for a second independence referendum before Brexit has fallen from 43 per cent following the vote last June to just 27 per cent.

While 61 per cent said they believe the UK should remain in the EU, 39 per cent want to leave, with support for Brexit at 35 per cent of those who voted Yes in the 2014 independence referendum.

Around a third of voters oppose Scotland applying to join the EU in the event of independence, compared to 48 per cent who are supportive and 21 per cent who do not know.

Overall, the poll found support for independence is slightly up on the 2014 result at 46 per cent, with the No vote at 54 per cent.

A spokeswoman for the SNP said: “These figures also show that people understand the economic damage that is threatened by the Tories’ hard Brexit obsession, which risks tearing us out of a single market eight times bigger than the UK’s alone.

“The Scottish Government has produced a detailed plan which would keep Scotland in the European single market even if the rest of the UK leaves and Theresa May should seriously consider those proposals.”