Scotland backs independence after Brexit vote, poll reveals

Nicola Sturgeon warned she would consider asking Holyrood to block the UK's departure from Europe if MSPs are required to give formal backing for Brexit
PA
Hatty Collier27 June 2016
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Scotland would vote for independence if a snap referendum was held today, a new poll carried out in the wake of the UK’s Brexit decision has revealed.

The Survation poll has pointed to a shift in public opinion, with 53.7 per cent saying they would vote for independence, against 46.3 per cent in favour of staying in the UK.

Including "don't knows", the figures are 47.8 per cent for Yes with 41.3 per cent backing the No side, according to the poll published by the Daily Record.

Scottish voters rejected independence by 55 per cent to 45 per cent in the September 2014 referendum.

The latest poll was carried out on 1,002 adults over the weekend after the UK’s shock decision on Thursday to leave the European Union by a margin of 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

In stark contrast, Scotland opted to be part of the EU, by 62 per cent to 38 per cent.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the situation means a second vote on Scottish independence is now "highly likely" and has warned she would consider asking Holyrood to block the UK's departure from Europe if MSPs are required to give formal backing for Brexit.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell accused Ms Sturgeon of "opportunism" to further the "independence agenda".

Mr Mundell told BBC Radio Scotland: "What I've said is there are two questions. One question is could there be another referendum? Of course there could, that's a process issue.

"Should there be another referendum? That's a quite different issue, and my view is that there should not be another independence referendum. I believe that the arguments for Scotland being part of the UK are as compelling today as they were in 2014.

"I think it's very, very unhelpful that at this moment, where we do look to bring stability, that virtually the first thing that is mentioned by the First Minister before the ink had even dried on the declaration of the result in the EU referendum is independence.”

Former SNP first minister Alex Salmond said Westminster can override a block from Holyrood under clause 28 of the Scotland Act.

Speaking on Good Morning Scotland, he pointed to the fact that every single local authority area north of the border voted to remain part of Europe and added: "You can't expect MSPs with that mandate from the people to just say 'oh well we'll just pass the legislative consent and tear up the people's mandate in Scotland'."

He also told the show: "I think Nicola is playing an absolute blinder. She's the only politician over the last few days who's looked like she knows what she's doing and is setting a clear course. She's taking things step by step as indeed she should.

"The negotiations she's opening across Europe with European leaders and institutions while Westminster's in chaos are to try and establish how do you secure Scotland's position within Europe.

"If the answer to that is the only way you can do that is through independence then she brings the independence referendum off the table and very much on the cards."

Responding to the Record poll, SNP business convener Derek MacKay said: "This poll is a strong endorsement of the actions of the First Minister and shows that when faced with the choice between being taken out of the EU against our will by a right wing Tory government, or continuing as outward looking, independent members of the European Union more and more people are open to the possibilities independence brings."

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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