New poll shows SNP dream is dead as Scots still reject independence
Scotland's National Party (SNP), led by John Swinney, has a core commitment to independence
PA
As the ten-year anniversary of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum approaches, pollsters found Scots would still vote to remain in the UK.
Nearly six in ten (59%) of those surveyed showed support for staying in the UK compared to 41 per cent who would choose independence, among decided voters.
This is slightly above the number of people who decided to remain in 2014 (55%) compared to those who voted for Scotland to become an Independent country (45%).
Pollster Survation spoke to 1,021 Scots eligible to vote between August 27 and 29 in a survey commissioned by the campaign group Scotland in Union.
If there was a referendum with the question 'Should Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?', how would you vote?
Some 59 per cent of respondents would choose to remain part of the United Kingdom according to a new poll
Survation
The question wording of the question, however, was different to what voters faced in 2014.
The question posed by the pollsters was: "If there was a referendum with the question, ‘Should Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?’, how would you vote?”
But, in 2014, the question was: "Should Scotland be an independent country?”
According to the poll, only 7 per cent of respondents said independence should be one of the most important issues the Government should prioritise, knocking it from the top ten issues facing voters.
Nearly two-thirds said the NHS should be a priority, followed by the cost of living (58%) and economy and jobs (27%).
Voters also believed housing (18%), education (16%), climate change (14%), support for older people (12%) and drug addiction (9%) were all more important issues for the Government to tackle than Scotland's independence.
Three-quarters of people in Scotland also want the Scottish and UK governments to work more closely together.
Those who wanted to stay part of the UK included 18 per cent of people who voted for SNP in July's general election.
For those who have changed their mind from voting 'Yes' to leave the UK in 2014, among the reasons stated for a change of heart included "on reflection, I think we are better as one", "SNP have made a mess in Scotland", and "the bad experience of Brexit shows that being part of a larger group has more benefits than independence."
Which of the following do you think are the most important issues that the current Scottish Government should prioritise?
Only seven per cent of respondents believe independence is an important issue that the Scottish Government should prioritise
Survation
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After being presented with several scenarios, over half of respondents said they would be less likely to vote to leave the UK if their personal income was reduced or public spending on health and education was reduced.
Alastair Cameron, founder and chair of Scotland in Union, said: “Over the past decade, the referendum result has ensured that more money has been available to spend on vital public services like health and education, and Scottish businesses and workers have benefited from the economic ties with the rest of the UK, which is by far our biggest trade market.
“The SNP’s relentless campaign to re-run the referendum has detracted from the important job of government.
“People want their politicians to prioritise what really matters – tackling the cost of living, creating jobs, and delivering housing."