Nationalist movement split as Scots grow more Eurosceptic
SCOTLAND has become much more Eurosceptic in recent years – despite Nicola Sturgeon using Brexit as her reason to launch a new bid to break up Britain.
A survey published today shows two-thirds of Scots want to leave the European Union or reduce its power.
There is even strong opposition to the EU among Yes voters.
The findings of the Scottish Social Attitudes study show there is no strong desire to remain in the EU.
It concludes that many of the 62 per cent of Scots who voted Remain are ‘relatively unenthusiastic about being part of the EU’. It also says the Nationalist movement is ‘divided over Europe’.
Professor John Curtice, senior research fellow at research firm ScotCen, which published the report following a survey of 1,237 Scots, said: ‘The Nationalist movement in Scotland has never been stronger electorally.
‘From its perspective, the outcome of the EU referendum appeared to be a perfect illustration of the argument that, for so long as it stays in the UK, Scotland is always at risk of having its “democratic will” overturned by England.
‘However, the commitment to the EU of many of those who voted to Remain does not appear to be strong enough that they are likely to be
‘Significant division’
persuaded by the outcome of the EU referendum to change their preference for staying in the UK.
‘Meanwhile, there is a risk that linking independence closely to the idea of staying in the EU could alienate some of those who currently back leaving the UK.’
He added: ‘Nicola Sturgeon might have been wiser to have stayed her hand. On current trends, there is a real possibility that demographic change will help produce a majority for independence in the not too distant future anyway.’
The survey has asked the same questions about independence and the EU every year since 1999.
The latest found 67 per cent of Scots are unhappy with the EU – 25 per cent want to leave and 42 per cent want its powers to be reduced. In 1999, only 40 per cent of Scots wanted to leave the EU or reduce its powers.
Of pro-independence voters, 33 per cent said they wanted to leave the EU, while 29 per cent wanted its powers to be reduced and 27 per cent were happy with the status quo.
It also found 56 per cent of Remain voters want the European Parliament’s powers to be reduced.
The report said ‘the Nationalist movement is divided over Europe’ and that many of those who voted Remain are ‘seemingly relatively unenthusiastic about being part of the EU’. It concluded that arguing for independence to keep Scotland in the EU ‘may not be the most effective way of changing the minds of many No voters’.
It added: ‘A referendum on the basis independence would enable Scotland to remain part of the EU may not necessarily provide the most propitious circumstances for Nationalists to win a second referendum after all.’
Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: ‘This report shows there is significant division already across Scotland on a range of constitutional matters. Sparking yet another referendum will only make this worse.
‘The people of Scotland do not want another referendum, and would prefer the SNP got on with dealing with the things that matter.
‘Instead, schools, hospitals and transport infrastructure are being neglected at the expense of the Nationalists’ separation obsession.’