22% of Scots support second indyref in three years as a result of Brexit
Research found almost half of people oppose a second independence referendum in the next three years.
Less than a quarter of Scots want a second independence referendum in the next three years because of Brexit, a poll has revealed.
Research by Ipsos Mori for STV News found that that while about two-fifths (41%) back another vote on independence before the next Scottish Parliament elections in 2021, only 22% said Brexit should result in second ballot on leaving the UK.
Almost one in five (19%) wanted another independence referendum regardless, and said the UK’s decision to quit the European Union had not impacted on this.
Meanwhile 46% said they would vote Yes to independence, while 4% were undecided or refused to say.
Support for leaving the UK was highest among those aged 25 to 34, at 59%, but in the over-55 age group 62% said they would vote No.
More than three-fifths (61%) of those surveyed said they believed Brexit would make both Scotland and the UK worse off – but while just 9% of SNP supporters and 13% of Labour voters said leaving the EU would boost the UK’s economy, this rose to almost a third (30%) for Tory supporters.
Opposition to leaving the EU was higher amongst younger voters, and 70% of those aged 16 to 24 said they believed Brexit would be bad for Britain’s economy – compared with the 50% of those aged 55 and over.
Labour was second on 26%, narrowly ahead of the Scottish Conservatives on 25%, while 6% said they would back the Liberal Democrats with 4% backing other parties.
Emily Gray, managing director of Ipsos Mori Scotland, said: “Scots are pessimistic about the impact that Brexit will have on the economy, both here in Scotland and across the UK. However, Scots’ pessimism about Brexit doesn’t appear to be giving rise to a clamour for a second referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future.
“While 22% of Scots say they support a second referendum in the next three years because of Brexit, there’s still no overall majority in favour of a second independence referendum – our research indicates that opposition to Scotland becoming an independent country remains higher than support for it.
“Meanwhile, the SNP continues to have the highest vote share of any political party in Scotland after almost 11 years in government. While our poll was taken in the same week as Scottish Labour’s spring conference in Dundee, findings do not point to a Scottish Labour ‘bounce’ among voters.”
“An overwhelming majority are worried about the damage of a hard Brexit to jobs and our economy. And they’re right to be concerned – even the UK Government’s own analysis shows we’re headed for economic disaster unless we protect Scotland’s place in the single market.
“While the Tories think they can do anything they like to Scotland and get away with it, the SNP will continue to stand firm against them.
“That’s why we’re 13 points ahead of rivals at Westminster – the Tories who are responsible for the chaos, and a Labour Party too weak and divided to provide any real opposition.”
