Majority of Scots want Nationalists to drop plans for second referendum

Three-fifths of Scots believe Nicola Sturgeon should drop her demand for a second independence referendum, according to a survey.

The Survation poll for the Daily Record found 60 per cent support that stance, which comes after the SNP lost 21 Commons seats in last week’s General Election, including those of former first minister Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson.

More than a quarter of those questioned (27 per cent) said the First Minister and SNP leader should continue her plans for Indyref2, while 13 per cent gave no view.

According to the newspaper, a third (34 per cent) of those who voted Yes in the 2014 referendum on independence told pollsters the First Minister should drop the proposal.

Some 36 per cent of those quizzed said Ms Sturgeon should resign as First Minister, but a larger percentage – 0 Labour’s James Kelly weclomed survey findings 47 per cent – said she should stay on.

In 2014, Scots voted by 55 per cent to 45 per cent to stay part of the United Kingdom.

If there were to be another vote, the result would be 57 per cent to 43 per cent in favour of remaining in the Union, the latest poll suggested.

After the UK voted to leave the European Union in June last year, Ms Sturgeon said a fresh ballot on independence was “highly likely”.

Scottish Government officials were instructed to start working on the legislation that would be necessary for another vote, and in March this year the First Minister said she wanted this to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, when the terms of the Brexit deal are known.

Scottish Labour’s election campaign manager, James Kelly, said the survey was “devastating” for the SNP and things will get worse for the party unless the First Minister gets “back to the day job”.

He added: “This poll makes it abundantly clear that Nicola Sturgeon must immediately drop her plans for a divisive second independence referendum.

“We need a government focused on schools and hospitals, not another referendum.”

The SNP leader has already pledged to “reflect carefully” on the general election result and conceded that plans for indyref2 were “undoubtedly” a factor in the result.