Scottish independence: Currency ‘gives Yes boost’

THE Chancellor’s move to rule out a deal to share the pound has made Scots more inclined to vote for independence than against it, according to an opinion poll by Survation.
Osborne's claim has proved more likely to push people toward a Yes vote than a No vote, the poll found. Picture: TSPLOsborne's claim has proved more likely to push people toward a Yes vote than a No vote, the poll found. Picture: TSPL
Osborne's claim has proved more likely to push people toward a Yes vote than a No vote, the poll found. Picture: TSPL

The results, in a Survation poll for the Daily Record newspaper, show 28 per cent of Scots are more likely to back a Yes vote in September following the decision by George Osborne to reject the SNP plan to keep using sterling.

It compares with 21 per cent who say they are now more likely to vote No, and 51 per cent who say it makes no difference.

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News of the findings come on the day the SNP begins its party conference in Aberdeen.

Minister’s claims

Earlier this month an anonymous UK Government minister was quoted as saying “of course” there will be a currency union after independence.

Downing Street and Westminster opposition parties insist the minister is wrong and strongly insist there will be no deal.

But the poll results also show that people in Scotland are more likely to think the Chancellor is bluffing on currency.

It shows 37 per cent think he and other Westminster leaders will agree to a formal deal, compared with 35 per cent who think they mean what they say.

A second poll by Panelbase, published at the same time, suggests 46 per cent think there will be a deal on currency compared with 34 per cent who think Mr Osborne will stick to his decision.

A YouGov poll for The Times last month suggested 45 per cent of Scots do not believe the Chancellor’s threat is real, compared with 40 per cent who do.

‘Bluff’

Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland, said: “We now have more strong evidence that the people of Scotland have seen right through the currency bluff of George Osborne, Ed Balls and Danny Alexander.

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“The currency confession from the Westminster Government minister that ‘of course’ there would be a shared sterling area between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK reflects the reality - and that is what most Scots believe.

“There is no question that the currency bluff has backfired, and is one of the factors contributing to the growing strength of the Yes vote.”

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