After a weekend of political jostling by Scotland’s party leaders, a new poll suggests Scots agree that another referendum should be held before the end of Brexit
MORE Scots agree with Nicola Sturgeon than UK Prime Minister Theresa May on an independence referendum not being delayed until after Brexit process is concluded, according to a new poll published by ComRes.
48 per cent of respondents to the poll disagreed with Theresa May that the second referendum on Scottish independence should be delayed until after Brexit is completed compared to 44 per cent.
The poll conducted on behalf of the Sunday Mirror and Independent followed the SNP’s spring party conference in Aberdeen which saw the first minister
It also precedes the crucial vote in Holyrood on Wednesday (22 March) this week which will see Scotland’s parties vote on having a second referendum and empowering the first minister to ask the UK Government for a section 30 order on holding one.
ComRes poll: Scottish voters on if May is right #ScotRef should happen after Brexit process
48% disagree
44% agreehttps://t.co/xNDPfRTdCY pic.twitter.com/3N6V6M532F— Robert J Somynne (@RobertJSomynne) March 19, 2017
Speaking to CommonSpace Dr Craig Dalzell, a lead researcher of the pro-independence thinktank CommonWeal and data analyst, said: “Despite the fairly low Scottish sub sample in this poll, it does indicate that there is significant feeling that the Scottish people should be given a choice between independence and what ever Brexit deal, if any, is offered and that this choice is offered before the Brexit deal takes effect.”
However, opinion is finely balanced so it will be incumbent on both sides of this debate to offer as much clarity as possibly as early as possible about their respective positions and for the people of Scotland to actively engage in the conversation about the future of our country.
The ComRes survey interviewed 2,026 adults across the UK and 185 individuals in Scotland on an online platform between the 15th and 17th March this year. In comparison, voters in England and Wales were more likely to agree with May’s view that a referendum should be postponed until after a Brexit deal by 60 per cent to 21 per cent.
“It does indicate that there is significant feeling that the Scottish people should be given a choice between independence and what ever Brexit deal, if any, is offered…before the Brexit deal takes effect.” Dr Craig Dalzell
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in her headlining speech at her party’s conference in Aberdeen that Scottish voters had the right to choose what future the country was going to take.
She framed her speech within the tradition of civil society’s struggle to secure and strength Scottish democracy quoting the Canon Keyon Wright who famously said: “We are the people and the people say yes.”
In response, the Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said that the majority of Scots do not want a second independence referendum. She told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (19 March) that Nicola Sturgeon’s call for such a vote was “not the will of the Scottish people”.
She said: “The SNP is not Scotland, they are acting against the majority wishes of the people of Scotland.”
Picture courtesy of Stuart Crawford
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