Opposition pounces as poll shows most Scots against split from UK

More than half of Scots are opposed to Scotland becoming independent, according to a new opinion poll.

A total of 53 per cent of those questioned by Progressive Scottish Opinion were against such a change, while 28 per cent were in favour of it and 17 per cent were unsure how they would vote in a referendum.

A total of 1,233 adults were questioned on the issue last week, with only 2 per cent stating they would not vote in an independence referendum if it was organised by Westminster rather than Holyrood.

This latest poll comes almost a month after the SNP officially launched its campaign for a Yes vote in the referendum.

While no date has been set for the vote, Nationalist leaders have pledged it will take place in the second half of Holyrood’s five-year parliamentary term.

The number of Scots backing independence is broadly in line with a poll for the BBC this month, which found 28 per cent of Scots were in favour.

However, there was stronger support for independence in a YouGov survey published at the end of October, when 34 per cent of those questioned favoured this and 52 per cent were against the move.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the latest poll was “more evidence of why Alex Salmond refuses to answer any of the big questions about his plan to break up Britain and why he won’t get on with the referendum”.

She continued: “Scotland is better off in Britain and Britain is great because Scotland is in it. The people of Scotland agree.

“It is time to settle the issue. We need a single, straightforward question free from legal challenge and we need to get on with it. If Alex Salmond really cares about Scotland’s best interests, then he will work with the UK government to let Scotland decide.”

Labour leader Iain Gray said: “This poll shows most people believe a devolved Scotland as part of Britain is the best way forward.

“Alex Salmond may lack confidence in his own cause, but this is no excuse for holding out on a referendum. He has the mandate, but the longer he refuses to name a date and tries to rig the question, the more he compromises that mandate.”

Shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran said the poll showed that “devolution is what Scots want, not separation”. She added: “Support for splitting away from the rest of the UK is only slightly more than quarter, which suggests the more scrutiny there is of the Nationalists, the more likely it is people will reject the case for separation.”

However, Nationalist campaign director Angus Robertson said: “The SNP received an overwhelming mandate from the people of Scotland in May to hold a referendum in the second half of this parliament and that is exactly what we will do. No amount of sabre rattling by Westminster politicians will convince us otherwise.

“We will be faithful to that mandate and all serious commentators accept that. Therefore, a survey about a Westminster- organised poll is beside the point as other recent polls have shown very different outcomes.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “This poll indicates the SNP’s failure to provide any clarity on what Scottish independence will mean is working against the SNP.

“Alex Salmond won the mandate for an independence referendum, but his refusal to answer any of the hard-hitting questions could mean he quickly loses that authority.

“It is time for clear answers from the SNP on their plans to split Scotland from the rest of the UK.”