Yes voters lose appetite for new Scottish independence referendum

[Celerity]

Stewart McDonald and Alex Neil pour cold water on general election plans

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yes-voters-lose-appetite-for-new-scottish-independence-referendum-wzzg6gcn9

https://archive.is/r5Cqp

Support for an independence referendum this year has fallen by 13 points in a month among those who voted Yes in 2014

Support for holding a referendum on Scottish independence in the coming months has plummeted among Yes voters, according to new polling. Research carried out by YouGov between January 23 and 26 found that backing for a referendum this year stands at 52 per cent among people who voted Yes in 2014, a fall of 13 points since December. The new research was released as senior SNP figures poured cold water on Nicola Sturgeon’s plan to hold a “de facto” constitutional contest.

YouGov found that 37 per cent of independence voters were opposed to a referendum taking place this year, an increase of eight points, while 11 per cent did not know, up by four points in little over a month. Among the general population, 8 per cent back a vote this year while 62 per cent are against and 10 per cent unsure.

In December, YouGov found that 38 per cent of people wanted a referendum to take place this year with 52 per cent opposed and 9 per cent unsure. Separate polling for JL Partners, carried out between January 30 and February 1, has found that support for a referendum being held within the next year stands at 26 per cent. The survey of 1,008 people found that 61 per cent were opposed and 13 per cent were undecided.



Sturgeon has said that she wants to hold a referendum in October, but given that the UK government has refused to agree — and the Supreme Court has ruled that Holyrood cannot unilaterally call a vote — she instead plans to use the next general election as a “de facto referendum”. Under that plan, as it was originally sketched out, if a majority of the electorate voted for pro-independence parties then Sturgeon would take that as a mandate to begin Scotland’s exit negotiations from the UK.

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