Nicola Sturgeon has been dealt a devastating blow by a poll which reveals the majority of Scots do NOT now support the push for independence.
A recent ruling by the Supreme Court confirmed the Scottish Parliament doesn't have any legal power to hold its own independence referendum. Ms Sturgeon blew £250,000 of taxpayers’ money on the legal bid, hoping it would fuel calls for a second vote.
But it appears to have had the opposite effect, solidifying support for the United Kingdom.
SNP blow: A new poll revealed that 44 per cent of Scottish people don't want independence
Jane Barlow
The results of the latest poll by Savanta ComRes for the Scotsman found that 46 percent are against independence while 44 per cent are in favour.
ComRes Savanta said the results were “too close to call” but proved disappointing for the SNP who hoped the ruling by the Supreme Court would lead to a surge of support for independence.
A total of nine percent of people in Scotland remain undecided.
The newest poll figures compare to the 2014 referendum results which saw 45 per cent of people wanting independence and 55 per cent against the idea.
Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at Savanta said: “Many pollsters have shown Yes leads recently, but the bulk of them – especially the larger ones – have come off the back of the Supreme Court ruling, a ruling which is likely to have made polling a little noisy and more volatile than usual.
“Now the dust has settled, we’re showing no change from our previous poll at the beginning of October, showing the most marginal of No leads but, really, the race would be too close to call were a referendum tomorrow."
He added: "Given views across Scotland are so entrenched on the issue of independence, I can only really foresee an actual referendum campaign moving the needle and swinging the pendulum the way of whoever makes the more convincing argument between unionists and those advocating for Scottish independence.
Scotland: The SNP tried to seek legal power to hold its own referendum
Jane Barlow
"What remains, then, is the issue of if – or when – a second referendum could possibly take place.”
