Poll: Scots independence is better if UK leaves the EU
MORE than half of Scotland believe independence would be better for the country than remaining in the UK after Brexit, a poll has indicated.
Almost three in five (59%) said leaving the UK would benefit Scotland more than staying in, if there was a no-deal Brexit.
The Panelbase survey, carried out for the Sunday Times Scotland and LBC, also found 53% believed independence would benefit the country more than staying in a UK that had left the European Union via a negotiated Withdrawal Agreement.
But this did not translate into a majority for independence, with support for this at 47% in the poll, compared to the 53% who want to remain in the UK.
The research, for which 1,028 people were questioned, was carried out in the run-up to tomorrow’s key vote in the Commons on Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement.
The poll also suggested 51% would back a fresh general election if the Prime Minister’s deal is defeated, with 32% opposed to this while 18% did not know. If this happened the SNP could win 37% of the vote in Scotland, ahead of Labour and the Conservatives, who would be tied on 26%, with the Liberal Democrats on 6% and both Ukip and the Greens on 2%, according to the poll.
Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice said: “Although this poll suggests support for independence may have edged up a bit, as things stand the Nationalist movement still finds itself tantalisingly short of the support it needs to win a second independence referendum.
“However, over half of those who voted No in 2014 still want Britain to remain part of the EU.”
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: “This is yet another poll that shows a majority of people in Scotland want to remain in the United Kingdom. Voters know that we are better off as part of the UK and it makes sense to remain with our oldest friends, neighbours and allies – rather than divide us in the name of narrow nationalism.
“But with uncertainty over Brexit, it’s clear Nationalists are trying to capitalise on that in the desperate hope of boosting support for their campaign to leave the UK. Whatever your views on Brexit, independence is not the answer.”
SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “Nothing highlights Scotland’s democratic deficit as starkly as Brexit.”