Scots hit out at ‘Partygate’ but half still back Union
MOST Scots think Boris Johnson should resign and that the ‘Partygate’ scandal could damage the Union – but this still has not led to a majority backing for independence.
A poll of 1,004 Scots by Savanta ComRes found 78 per cent of respondents think the Prime Minister should resign over allegations of Covid rulebreaking at Downing Street.
Some 54 per cent said the allegations had hurt the Union either a lot or a little, while 35 per cent thought it had not damaged the strength of Scotland’s place in the UK.
But the poll, for the Scotsman newspaper, also showed that respondents were split down the middle on the issue of independence, with 50 per cent on either side when ‘don’t knows’ are excluded.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser yesterday tweeted: ‘Nats [must] be gutted that despite all the chaos at Westminster they STILL can’t get a majority for separation. #SettledWill.’
The survey was carried out between January 14 and 18, after allegations emerged on January 13 that a party took place at Downing Street on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross called on Mr Johnson to resign after the Prime Minister admitted attending a party in Downing Street during lockdown.
Almost eight in ten (79 per cent) of respondents said Mr
‘UK Government is in disarray’
Ross was right to call for the Prime Minister to go.
Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta ComRes, said: ‘A 50/50 split on the independence voting intention does represent a bit of shift towards Yes since our last poll in October, but ultimately, given the disaster the UK Government in Westminster is experiencing, one would perhaps expect support for independence to be higher.
‘Many swing independence voters will likely weigh up in their minds the competence of both the Scottish and UK governments at any given moment to help decide how they would vote at a future referendum, and, while the UK Government is in disarray, it’s perhaps surprising that support for Scotland to go it alone isn’t higher.’
Senior Tory MSP Stephen Kerr made a high-profile call for Mr Johnson to quit during the BBC’s Question Time programme on Thursday night.
The Central Scotland MSP said: ‘This is a very difficult thing for me, as a lifelong Conservative, having to say words like “I think the leader of my party at UK-level should resign”. But that is exactly what I’m saying tonight.
‘In this respect I think Douglas Ross is right because there need to be standards in public life and what Douglas has shown is principle.’
He said Mr Johnson will face a vote of confidence after Sue Gray’s report on the issue is released and there is an ‘inevitability’ he will leave office.
Kirsten Oswald, SNP Westminster
deputy leader, said: ‘This new poll – highlighting the scale of public opposition to the corrupt Tory Government and movement in favour of independence – is another reminder that only with independence will we be able to escape the broken and corrupt Westminster system.’
Meanwhile, Liz Truss has insisted that Mr Johnson should continue in office for ‘as long as possible’.
The Foreign Secretary, who is a leading contender to replace him, said he ‘100 per cent’ has her backing and ‘is doing an excellent job’ for Britain.
Mr Johnson is expected to speak to several wobbling Tory MPs this weekend from Chequers, in an attempt to head off any threat. Insiders believe similar meetings earlier this week helped defuse the threat of the ‘Pork Pie Plot’ coup by Red Wall MPs.
Last night fresh claims were made over the alleged parties on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral. Staff reportedly partied until 1am, and it was claimed some used a slide belonging to the PM’s son.