Only 1 in 3 wants Indyref 2 as voters lose faith in Nicola
SNP facing loss of ten seats at Holyrood, poll reveals
‘Time Miss Sturgeon faced facts’
NICOLA Sturgeon has suffered a triple blow from a poll showing plunging support for the SNP and an independence referendum – while her own popularity has nose-dived.
Just over one in three Scots would support another referendum – even after Brexit takes place, a survey published yesterday has revealed.
It also found that the SNP is facing the loss of ten seats at the next Holyrood election, which would rob the party of its pro-independence majority and deny it any chance of another vote on Scotland’s future before 2026.
There was also a sharp decline in the number of people who believe Miss Sturgeon is performing well as First Minister, while Ruth Davidson remains the most popular Holyrood leader.
Some 45 per cent said Miss Davidson is doing well, down 2 points, while Miss Sturgeon was down 3 at 43 per cent.
Donald Cameron, Scottish Tory policy co-ordinator, said: ‘This shows that the more the SNP constantly agitates on separation, the public only becomes less in favour of it.
‘The SNP has repeatedly tried to use Brexit to selfishly pursue its own constitutional goals. But voters are wise to that, which is why the SNP – and the only issue it cares about – are slipping in opinion polls.’
Miss Sturgeon confirmed this week that she will announce in the final three months of this year whether she will renew her demand for another independence referendum.
But the YouGov poll of 1,002 Scots for The Times, carried out between January 12 and 16, showed little appetite from the Scottish public.
Only 36 per cent think there should be another vote in the next five years – down 3 per cent on a poll in October – while 54 per cent believe there should not be another in that timescale, up 2 per cent.
Some 10 per cent do not know, up 1 per cent. Brexit will make little difference, with 36 per cent saying they would want a referendum after Britain formally leaves the EU, down 2 per cent, while 47 per cent would not, up 2 per cent, and 17 per cent did not know.
The poll also showed that the SNP’s share of the constituency vote is set to fall four percentage points, to 38 per cent, while the regional list vote is down three percentage points, at 32 per cent.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: ‘It’s time Nicola Sturgeon faced facts – the people of Scotland simply don’t want another referendum and the more she tries to force one the more unpopular she becomes.
‘The SNP Government has tried everything to exploit the uncertainty of Brexit and, if anything, public opinion is hardening against Indyref 2.
‘During the 2014 referendum, the people of Scotland asked Nicola Sturgeon basic questions about the currency and finances of independence.
‘Four years later, she plans to kick-start a new drive for a second referendum by attempting to answer them when she publishes the long-awaited Growth Commission report.
‘The rest of the country has moved on.’
On the Holyrood list vote, the Tories are on 25 per cent, Labour 22 per cent, the Greens 10 per cent and the Lib Dems 7 per cent. On the constituency vote, the Tories are on 26 per cent, Labour 23 per cent, Lib Dems 7 per cent and Greens 3 per cent.
These results mean the SNP is estimated to lose ten seats to 53, the Tories would gain two to 33, Labour would gain three to 27, the Greens would gain four to ten, and the Lib Dems would gain one, to six.
SNP business convener Derek Mackay said: ‘Only the SNP has stood up for Scotland’s interests after the Brexit vote... The fact Scotland is being dragged out of the EU against our will, with all of the damage that will cause to jobs and our economy, underlines the need to control our own future.
‘Support for an independent Scotland, across a range of polls, remains at historically high levels.’