NEW POLL: Scots overwhelmingly reject SNP’s focus on another referendum

Only one-in-12 Scots want the next Scottish Government to prioritise another independence referendum, according to a new poll published on the eve of the SNP’s conference.

The overwhelming majority of voters believe the cost of living should be the top focus for ministers, yet John Swinney said in an interview this week that a second referendum would be his “priority” if the nationalists win a majority in May.

The NHS, immigration, economy and jobs, energy bills, housing, crime and policing, and education all rank higher than ‘another Scottish independence referendum’ in the poll, which attracted only 8% of support when people were asked to choose a top three.

Campaign group Scotland in Union said the findings demonstrate how “out of touch” the SNP has become after nearly 20 years in power as the party faithful prepare to meet in Edinburgh tomorrow (SAT).

The Survation poll of more than 1,000 Scots also shows that most voters do not think the SNP Government is performing well when it comes to the NHS, the economy, housing, crime and policing, or education.

A major performance failure identified by voters is drug deaths, while the only topic where positives outstrip negatives is the running of Scotland’s trains.

Meanwhile, only 26% said Swinney is doing a good job as first minister and nearly two-thirds (64%) said the Scottish and UK governments should work together more closely after the coming election.

Asked how they would vote in a second referendum with the question ‘should Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?’, 60% would choose to remain.

The poll asked those who voted ‘yes’ to leaving the UK in 2014, but would now vote to remain why they have changed their minds, and the top themes were current global instability and loss of trust in the Scottish Government.

“I’m now more concerned about the potential economic instability and the complexity of border issues than I was back in 2014” said one respondent, while one said the “current government have proved that they cannot govern properly” and another added: “In light of recent global conflicts, you might feel that Scotland is more secure as part of a larger UK military and diplomatic power.”

Survation polled 1,014 adults aged 16+ in Scotland between March 4 and 9.

Alastair Cameron, chair of Scotland in Union, said: 

“This poll shows how out of touch John Swinney and the SNP leadership are with the concerns of people across Scotland. Voters can see through the nationalists’ bluster, and understand that the SNP are dragging Scotland down.

“We need a government in Scotland which prioritises issues which matter to people every day, rather than obsessing about breaking apart the UK. We can’t afford another five years of SNP incompetence and division.

“We need a change of leadership at Holyrood, and more cooperation with the UK government, rather than nationalists picking needless fights and pushing for another divisive referendum which would distract from improving lives in Scotland.

“At the Holyrood election this May, I hope that people will vote to remove the nationalists from power so that we can move on, together.”