Poll reveals support for Scottish independence falls below 2014 referendum level

2014 referendum - credit Scottish Government

Support for Scottish independence is below the 45 per cent achieved at the 2014 referendum, a new poll has revealed.

A YouGov survey for The Times found that 44 per cent of Scots are now in favour of leaving the UK, while 56 per cent back the union.

It also reveals that only 31 per cent of Scots want the Scottish Government to campaign for independence in the next two years, with 56 per cent against, while the rest do not know.

RELATED CONTENT

Editor's note: Is inertia creeping into the Scottish Government?

Henry McLeish: What's the point of a union that's unwilling to take Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland seriously?

Just 60 per cent of those who backed a Yes vote in 2014 want the Scottish Government to campaign for a fresh independence bid in that time, while the figure among No voters is at 9 per cent.

The SNP have been engaging in a “listening exercise” since the summer, in an attempt to woo former No voters into backing separation at a future referendum.

Yet the poll reveals only 13 per cent of Scots said that they had been contacted by the party as part of their national conversation survey, while 82 per cent said they had not.

The results come months after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a new referendum is “highly likely” following the Brexit vote after the majority of Scots voted to stay in the EU.

Professor John Curtice said the SNP’s policy of tying Scottish independence with membership of the EU had “eroded” support for the Nationalists’ flagship policy.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives said: “On the day the SNP finish their so-called listening exercise on independence, it is now time they finally paid heed to what Scotland is saying — ‘no’ to a second referendum, and ‘no’ to more division, more uncertainty, and more rancour.”

A Scottish Labour spokesperson said the SNP should focus on the “bread and butter" issues, adding that the the poll is further evidence “that a growing number of Scots are opposed to the SNP’s latest attempt to divide our country”.

The poll also revealed that support for the SNP government had not shifted, with the party on course to retain the 63 seats they currently hold if there were a Holyrood election to be held tomorrow.

An SNP spokesperson said: “This poll shows continued strong support for the SNP, with nearly 50per cent of backing in an election for Scottish parliament constituencies, nine years into government.

“That is a very powerful endorsement of the party’s record in office and of Nicola Sturgeon as first minister.”