JUST 39% INDEPENDENCE BACK INDEPENDENCE
Falling support is blamed on bitter battle for leadership
SUPPORT for Scottish independence has sunk further amid the ‘brutal civil war’ raging between SNP leadership candidates, a poll has found.
Only 39 per cent of Scots would now vote to break up the UK, while 47 per cent would vote to stay part of Britain.
The leadership contest, in which candidates have criticised flagship policies of the current SNP government they have served in, has been blamed for the slump in support for independence.
The percentage of Scots in favour of separation is down from the 40 per cent recorded in the wake of the First Minister’s resignation last month, and it has only been lower in three polls carried out over the past five years.
The latest poll, of 1,002 Scots, was carried out by YouGov for Sky News ahead of the broadcaster’s leadership debate last night.
It also revealed that Kate Forbes is the highest rated candidate of the three vying to become the next First Minister.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: ‘It’s clear the SNP’s brutal civil war is repelling voters – who have no faith in any of the three candidates. The only thing this feuding, out-of-touch trio can agree on is their shared obsession with breaking up the UK.
‘The SNP are moving further and further away from the real priorities of ordinary Scots who want their government to focus on the cost-ofliving crisis and fixing Scotland’s NHS.’
Sky News political editor Beth Rigby made it another uncomfortable night for Humza Yousaf, Ash Regan and Ms Forbes, who launched bitter attacks at one another over their popularity, competence and record in government.
Health Secretary Mr Yousaf repeatedly fumbled when challenged about his record of failure, unable to say whether key targets set by the SNP had been met – and he also claimed credit for the Queensferry Crossing.
He said independence would be his ‘top priority’ as First Minister – putting him entirely at odds with most Scots, who repeatedly say in opinion polls that the NHS and economy are the main issues.
Mr Yousaf is also the minister perceived to be the worst of the three candidates, gaining the highest figures for negative traits: 39 per cent said he is a weak leader, 40 per cent said he would be incompetent and 42 per cent said he was untrustworthy.
Asked why he is viewed so poorly, Mr Yousaf blamed his time in ‘three of the most difficult jobs in government over the last ten years’. He claimed Ms Forbes was more popular because she has ‘not had a public service delivery role in government’.
Meanwhile, the Finance Secretary was left squirming after being unable to say if she would completely outlaw all conversion therapy, even in cases where people supposedly consent to attempts to change their sexuality.
Former community safety minister Ms Regan also rowed back on her claim she could create a central bank and new Scottish currency within a ‘couple of months’ of independence, saying it would take ‘two to three years’ including any negotiating period.
The vast majority of Scots also fear that all three SNP candidates battling to become First Minister would be a ‘downgrade’ on Nicola Sturgeon, with only 6 per cent saying frontrunner Humza Yousaf would be a better leader.
Despite being the bookies’ favourite and receiving the most endorsements from colleagues, 46 per cent of people believe Mr Yousaf would be a worse leader than Ms Sturgeon, including 54 per cent of the SNP’s own voters.
Ms Forbes is seen as the best candidate but only 27 per cent think she would be a fairly or very good First Minister, compared with 36 per cent who disagree.
Less than a quarter (22 per cent) believe Mr Yousaf would do a good job, compared with 44 per cent who said he would be a poor leader. Ms Regan trails the other two candidates when people were asked if she would be a good First Minister.
‘Moving further away from real priorities’