Poll reveals widespread UK support for Scotland's democratic right to indyref2
Voters in England back Scotland’s right to a second independence referendum, a new poll has found. Savanta ComRes polling for news and comment site Left Foot Forward shows that 38% of voters in England believe First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has the right to launch another referendum, compared to 34% who do not.
The poll was carried out after the Scottish general election earlier this month saw the SNP win a landslide victory, returning 64 MSPs - just one short of an overall majority.
The Greens won eight seats in the election, creating a pro-indy majority with a combined total of 72 of the parliament's 129 seats.
Even 40% of voters in Tory-dominated South East England support another independence vote, ahead by a slim margin (38% against)
The poll also showed that 39% of voters across Britain back Scotland’s right to another referendum following the Holyrood election results, compared to 34% who do not.
Even 40% of voters in Tory-dominated South East England support another independence vote, ahead by a slim margin (38% against).
And 46% of voters in Scotland support the right to another vote, compared to just 32% against.
The findings will be seen as a major boost for the SNP, as Nicola Sturgeon was sworn in as First Minister today. The SNP leader and the Scottish Greens have vowed to press ahead with plans for a second referendum during this parliamentary term, after Covid has been defeated.
The poll is not good news for Labour’s UK leader Keir Starmer nor for the party’s Scottish leader Anas Sarwar, who are both out of step with party opinion.
A majority of Labour voters across Britain – 51% – back the right to another independence vote, with only 21% against. Mr Starmer has said the UK must ‘‘change to survive’ and has argued the SNP’s focus on independence is the ‘wrong debate’, insisting that now is not the time for another independence referendum.
Mr Sarwar has argued Scotland should ‘‘call time’ on the independence debate for the next five years. In the Scottish election Labour’s vote tally fell by two seats.
Mr Sarwar's opposition to another independence is in marked contrast to Labour’s Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, who has not ruled out an independence referendum in Wales. He told Radio 4 last month: “I have always believed that if a party won an election in Wales with a referendum on independence in its manifesto then it would have won the right to hold such a referendum.”
Across Britain, 45-54 year olds are most in favour of Scotland pushing ahead with another independence vote, with 45% in favour
The Left Foot Forward polling finds that one in four - 27% -Conservative voters back permitting another independence vote, though a majority - 52% - are opposed.
Across Britain, 45-54 year olds are most in favour of Scotland pushing ahead with another independence vote, with 45% in favour.
Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly refused to pass a Section 30 order paving the way for indyref2. Then Prime Minister David Cameron passed such an order for the first indyref in 2014.
Some newspapers have recently reported that Westminster ministers may attempt to pass legislation explicitly outlawing another indy vote.