Lack of interest in SNP’s flagship independence document revealed

Fewer than 150 people a day accessed the SNP’s latest flagship independence document in the month after it was published.

New research has shown there were only 4,466 unique visitors to the page hosting ‘A Fresh Start with Independence’ between October 8, when it was released, and November 7.

In the days after the first month passed visitor numbers slumped further, with 55 on November 8 and 46 on November 9.

On the day the 91-page document was unveiled, amid great fanfare from the Scottish Government and First Minister John Swinney, only 1,371 people bothered to download the paper.

The research was carried out by Scotland in Union, the largest pro-UK campaign organisation.

The Freedom of Information response showed the vast majority of people who accessed it did so from the UK.

That was followed by 166 in the US, 81 in Germany and 70 in Spain.

People in Brazil, India and Greece also visited the page.

The cost of producing the paper is unknown, but previous reports have shown how tens of thousands of pounds were spent producing similar propaganda in previous years.

Alastair Cameron, chair of Scotland in Union, said:

“The paltry number of people accessing this document proves just how futile an exercise this was.

“The SNP government thinks the public are hanging on its every word when it comes to breaking up Britain.

“In fact, barely anyone is paying attention, and Scots have far greater priorities.

“That is borne out in repeated polling, and now by these pitiful figures in relation to what ministers thought was a flagship document.

“It is disgraceful the SNP continues to spend taxpayers’ money on this when there are so many more important things requiring attention.

“The poor uptake should persuade the Scottish Government to drop these propaganda documents once and for all.”