SNP boosted by independence poll
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has received a major boost ahead of next May’s Holyrood elections as a poll finds more than half of voters now back independence.
An ICM poll for the Scotsman finds 52 per cent of Scottish voters would like an independent Scotland, the highest level of support since the survey began eight years ago.
Just 39 per cent are opposed to splitting the union, suggesting the SNP, which has promised to publish a bill for a referendum on independence within its first 100 days of government, is making significant headway.
In terms of public support for the main parties, the SNP is leading Labour in the constituency vote, with 32 per cent compared to Labour’s 30 per cent. Both parties look set to tie in the regional list vote, on 28 per cent of support.
SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said: “The results of this poll further confirm the fact that Labour are floundering in Scotland while the momentum is now clearly with the SNP.”
She added: “Labour’s tired scaremongering tactics are simply failing in face of the SNP’s positive case for Scottish independence.”
However, Duncan McNeil, chairman of the Labour group of MSPs in the Scottish parliament, said: “The choice voters will face is between investment in schools and the NHS with Labour, or separation and isolation with the nationalists.”
Analysis of the figures suggest that neither party would have enough to form a government on their own and the Liberal Democrats would therefore be key players, trading their support for key cabinet posts in a coalition executive.
The poll is bad news for the Conservatives, however. Despite David Cameron’s rhetoric about increasing the party’s presence in Scotland, it suggests they will lose two per cent of votes in the constituencies and one per cent in the regional lists.
But leader of the Scottish Tories Annabel Goldie was defiant, saying more Conservative councillors and MSPs would be elected in May to give the party a “stronger voice”.
