Opinion poll puts support for union and independence neck and neck

A new opinion poll has put support for independence and the union neck and neck, with equal numbers for and against.

The Survation poll found 45 per cent support for independence and 45 per cent support for the union, with 10 per cent undecided.

The Survation poll of 1,019 people was carried out between 20-22 January, before the YouGov poll published in Friday that found a small lead for independence.

It was good news for the SNP as a party as well, with 51 per cent saying they would vote SNP in the constituency part of the vote in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

The poll put the Conservatives well behind on 23 per cent, followed by Labour on 17 per cent and the Lib Dems on seven per cent.

In the regional list part of the vote, 38 per cent said they would vote SNP, 21 per cent Conservative, 19 per cent Labour and nine per cent each for the Greens and Lib Dems.

Commenting on the poll, SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “This is another fantastic poll for the Yes movement – showing without doubt that the momentum is behind independence.

“Scotland has been dragged out of the EU against our will by a Tory government and prime minister that we didn’t vote for – and who are undemocratically trying to block the people of Scotland having their say in a referendum.

“But that position is unsustainable – ultimately the people of Scotland will have the chance to escape Boris Johnson’s Brexit Britain and choose a better future as an independent European nation.

“The case for independence grows stronger by the day. The longer Boris Johnson tries to ignore the SNP’s democratic mandate the more support for independence will continue to grow.”

But Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: “With one-in-ten Scots undecided, this poll is a reminder to those of us who believe in solidarity and oppose division that we must continue to make the positive case for remaining in the UK every day.

“We know the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland don’t want a divisive second independence referendum this year, but Nicola Sturgeon is ramping up her campaign in a desperate bid to deflect from the SNP’s failings in office.

“She should stop trying to divide Scotland and focus on fixing the public services her government has run into the ground. Scotland deserves better.”