Scotland Would Now Vote For Independence, Poll Finds

Scotland Has Changed Its Mind Again About Independence...
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Scotland would vote Yes to independence if another referendum were held today - just six weeks after a majority voted No, a poll has found.

Independence now has the backing of 52% of people in Scotland compared with 48% for the union, a YouGov poll for The Times has found.

When those who would not vote or do not know are included, the split is 49% for Yes and 45% for No, the poll of 1,078 Scottish adults between October 27 and 30 found.

Scotland voted 55% in favour of keeping the UK together in the referendum on September 18.

Two-fifths of people think a second poll will be held within the next ten years, slightly more (45%) want this to happen but 16% never want another one, the poll found.

More than half (53%) of people said they supported having another referendum if the Conservatives win a majority in next year's general election while 54% said a vote on Scotland's future in the UK should take place if the Tories win in May but do not have any MPs north of the border.

Meanwhile, 55% are in favour of a second independence referendum if the UK votes to leave the European Union in 2017.

Mark Diffley, research director at Ipsos MORI said he was "not particularly surprised" by the findings.

He said the September 18 referendum had generated an "unprecedented" interest in politics, with turnout in the vote reaching 85%.

Mr Diffley added: "As 45% of people voted Yes, you would imagine all of them would want another referendum.

"In terms of No voters, they could want another referendum for a variety of reasons, they are maybe somewhat disappointed with what has happened since in terms of extra powers and there may be people who were tempted to vote Yes but didn't go through with it who would like the opportunity to have the debate again."

Scotland's first minister-in-waiting Nicola Sturgeon has already refused to back calls from the pro-UK parties to rule out holding another referendum for at least a generation, insisting such a vote will be held "'when the Scottish people decide the time is right''.

To stem rising demand for a second vote, she said Westminster must deliver on its vow of more powers for Holyrood as well as putting a halt to cuts in the Scottish Government's budget.

Today's YouGov/Times poll also found 43% of Labour supporters now back independence, with only 22% saying Labour represents their interests well against 65% who said it represents them badly.

Data from the same poll released yesterday suggests the party is facing a near wipeout in Scotland, with the SNP enjoying a 16-point lead on Westminster voting intentions.

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont quit a week ago complaining that UK Labour treats Scotland like a "branch office".

New data released today suggests only 3% of people feel Scottish Labour has a lot of freedom to pursue different policies from the UK party, while a quarter said it has none at all.

Nearly three fifths of people (58%) said Ms Lamont was right to quit against 11% who said she was wrong.