Poll says support for Scots independence at all-time low

Published on Wednesday 30 April 2008 10:16

SUPPORT for an independent Scotland has fallen to an all-time low, a new opinion poll claimed today.

Just 19 per cent of people said they would vote for independence in a multi-option referendum on Scotland's future. Nearly three-quarters of those questioned backed keeping the Scottish Parliament as it is or increasing its powers.

But the YouGov survey also found support for the SNP had increased since last year's Holyrood elections. And more than half said they approved of the Scottish Government's record over the past year. The findings on independence will be a blow to First Minister Alex Salmond, whose declared strategy is to govern well under devolution so people are persuaded to opt for independence.

The poll, for today's Daily Telegraph, found in a yes/no referendum, 59 per cent would be in favour of retaining the present parliament and 25 per cent would back "a completely separate state outside the UK".

But if the option of "greater powers" was added – as Mr Salmond has proposed – support for independence fell to 19 per cent, compared with 34 per cent supporting the parliament's existing powers and 38 per cent for more powers.

The previous lowest level of support for independence was 23 per cent in a survey by the Scottish Centre for Social Research last year. And the findings contrast with two recent polls which put support for independence at around 40 per cent.

However, asked on voting intentions in a Scottish Parliament election, 36 per cent said they would back the SNP in the constituency vote – up from 33 per cent in the elections last May. Labour was down one point to 31 per cent, the Liberal Democrats down one to 15 per cent and the Tories down four to 13 per cent.

In the regional or list vote, the SNP had 37 per cent support – up six points – while Labour was down one to 28 per cent, the Lib Dems up two to 13 per cent and the Tories down one to 13 per cent.

SNP deputy leader and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP said the growing SNP lead showed the party's honeymoon was continuing on the back of solid policy delivery.

And on independence, she said: "If you ask a straight question, unlike in this poll, then you will get a straight answer. The most recent poll to ask the question as it would be put in a referendum showed support for independence for Scotland moving ahead of the status quo – advancing by 16 points since last summer."

In the YouGov poll, fifty-two per cent of people said they approved of the Scottish Government's record while 27 per cent disapproved. And 53 per cent said they were satisfied with Mr Salmond and 33 per cent dissatisfied.