SCOTS REJECT SECOND VOTE
EXCLUSIVE: Majority of Scots don’t want second referendum before Brexit... and believe Westminster should decide timing
NICOLA Sturgeon has been sent a clear message that Scotland does not want another divisive campaign to break up Britain.
An exclusive poll for the Scottish Daily Mail has revealed Scots oppose the First Minister’s plans to hold another independence referendum before Brexit takes place – and would vote No again.
A majority of Scots say Theresa May should reject her demand to hold a vote on Scotland’s future before Britain formally leaves the European Union in the spring of 2019.
It is the first poll to be carried out since Miss Sturgeon made the bombshell announcement on Monday that she will demand the power to hold a referendum between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019.
It found 53 per cent of Scots would vote No if there was another referendum, compared to 47 per cent Yes. And 46 per cent oppose another referendum, while only 41 per cent support it.
The poll came on another day of dramatic developments over Scotland’s constitutional future, in which:
The Scottish Government formally informed
UK ministers that they intend to hold a two-day debate next week on demanding the power to hold a referendum.
UK ministers continued to discuss how the Government will respond – with the likeliest scenario being they will only grant the power to hold a referendum if it takes place after Brexit.
Miss Sturgeon took to social media to taunt the Prime Minister by reminding her she has never been elected and insisting she has an ‘overwhelming’ mandate to hold another referendum.
Spain’s Foreign Minister insisted an independent Scotland would have to leave the EU and join a queue to negotiate membership on new terms – which could include adopting the euro.
The pound plummeted to an eightweek low as the markets reacted to the new threat of the collapse of the UK.
The Church of Scotland became embroiled in an explosive row after it demanded that Theresa May allows a referendum.
The Mail’s poll of 1,019 Scots, carried out between March 8-13 by Survation, found 46 per cent oppose Miss Sturgeon’s plan to hold another independence referendum before Brexit, while only 41 per cent support it and 13 per cent were undecided or did not know.
It also revealed that 48 per cent of Scots would vote No again if there was a referendum, compared to 43 per cent that would vote Yes and 9 per cent who were undecided.
When undecided voters are stripped out, it gives No a 53-47 majority.
Crucially, the poll also found majority support for Mrs May rejecting any
‘Devastating impact on our economy’
demand from the SNP to hold a referendum before Brexit.
A total of 36 per cent of respondents said the Prime Minister should reject any request to hold another vote, with a further 18 per cent saying she should accept the request but only allow the vote after Brexit. Thirty-one per cent said she should devolve the power.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘This is another poll which shows people in Scotland do not support Nicola Sturgeon’s reckless push to separate our country in two.
‘It also confirms that support for independence itself is flat-lining. Nicola Sturgeon said she would not bring back another referendum if people did not change their minds. She should keep her promise and take this divisive unwanted referendum off the table.’
The poll revealed that a significant minority of SNP supporters do not support Miss Sturgeon’s plan for a referendum before Brexit, with 23 per cent of Nationalists opposing her proposals.
It also found 18 per cent of SNP voters would vote No if there was another independence referendum tomorrow.
The Conservatives had the strongest support for the Union, with 89 per cent saying they would vote No, while 88 per cent said they oppose another referendum.
Among Tory voters, 75 per cent said Mrs May should outright reject Miss Sturgeon’s demands for the power to hold a referendum while 9 per cent said she should agree but only allow it to take place after Brexit, and 10 per cent said she should agree entirely.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: ‘This is a yet another poll that shows a majority of Scots are opposed to independence, despite the SNP’s desperate attempts to convince people to support the break-up of the UK.
‘And there is clear opposition to Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for a divisive second referendum.
‘Our country is already divided, we should not be divided again. Scottish Labour believes that together we’re stronger, and we are firmly opposed to a second independence referendum. The Labour Party I lead will never support independence. In 2014 the Nationalists repeatedly marched into the poorest communities in Scotland and gave false hope that everything would be better with independence.
‘But cutting £15billion from schools and hospitals will make it harder to help the poorest and most vulnerable in Scotland because of the devastating impact independence would have on our economy.
‘More than two million people in Scotland voted to remain in the UK in 2014. The Nationalists should respect that mandate and focus on the day job of fixing our schools and hospitals.’
Yesterday, Brexit Minister Michael Russell formally notified the UK Government of the SNP’s intention to hold a two-day debate on a second independence referendum.
Following the debate, MSPs will be asked to vote on whether to demand a Section 30 order giving them the power to hold another referendum. The outcome is a formality, as the Scottish Greens have indicated they will support the SNP to give a pro-independence majority.
Following the request, Miss Sturgeon will formally approach the UK Government to demand the Section 30 order. UK ministers are still considering how to respond to the request. They are considerand
‘Should respect the 2014 vote’
ing allowing the vote but setting out that a referendum must only take place after Britain has formally left the EU.
As any referendum would have to take place more than six months before a national election, that makes the likeliest timescale between April 2019 and November 2019.
Following a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said any referendum must take place between autumn 2018 spring 2019, adding that it must be ‘made in Scotland’.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that just hours after Miss Sturgeon announced plans to hold a second referendum SNP ministers were conducting a ‘ring round’ of Scottish businesses and organisations.
A number of firms, representatives and groups have been written to reassuring them over plans to break up the Union. This includes a letter sent by Justice Secretary Michael Matheson to the Scottish Police Federation, while Economy Secretary Keith Brown yesterday called the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland.
The Scottish Tories have tabled a number of parliamentary questions to establish the extent of a Scottish Government minister ‘ring round’.
Deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: ‘This is a farcical use of Government ministers’ time when they are supposed to be focused on the day job.’
Comment – Page 16