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Scots backing away from independence vote

By EARLE GALE in London | China Daily Global | Updated: 2021-09-13 09:55

Pro-independence demonstrators, on the left side, wave flags at Fraserburgh harbour in Aberdeen, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves in a motorcade after a tour of Moray Offshore Windfarm East, during his visit to Scotland, Britain, Aug 5, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]

Scottish voters are becoming less supportive of their nation separating from the United Kingdom, according to an opinion poll, which found the 56 percent who backed independence in February had shrunk to 48 percent by September.

The poll, which was conducted by Stack Data Strategy among 1,007 Scottish voters on behalf of the Onward think tank, found around one person in four wanted a referendum on independence to be held during 2021 or 2022.

The 27 percent in favor of the idea was down on the 35 percent who backed it in February.

The pollsters even found the appetite for a referendum in the short-term was not particularly strong among supporters of the Scottish National Party, or SNP, with only 41 percent favoring the idea.

The SNP, which heads the devolved Scottish government and which campaigned on the promise of holding another referendum, has, however, not targeted a referendum in 2021 or 2022, but, according to The Guardian newspaper, prefers holding on to the fall of 2023.

The poll, which was conducted between Sept 1 and Sept 8, seemed to identify the cause of the lack of enthusiasm for an early referendum, with four in five of those quizzed saying Scottish politicians should focus instead on tackling the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper quoted Will Tanner, the director of Onward, as saying: "As the SNP gather for their virtual party conference this weekend, it is clear that their priorities are not those of the Scottish people. An overwhelming majority-including three in four of the SNP's own voters-say that the government should focus on tackling coronavirus, not constitutional reform, and less than a third of people want a referendum in the next two years."

But the SNP said the poll, while showing limited desire for a referendum in the short-term, still clearly suggests there is an appetite for one during the term of the SNP's tenure in government, which ends in 2026.

A spokesman for the party told The Daily Telegraph: "This poll shows a clear majority of people in Scotland want an independence referendum in the current Holyrood term-in line with the cast-iron democratic mandate for one secured in May's election when (party leader and first minister) Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP were re-elected with a record share of the vote."

The pollsters found around four in every 10 people thought a referendum should not be held until it becomes clear whether an independent Scotland would be allowed to join the European Union. Around 45 percent of Scottish voters said they would also like to know which currency an independent Scotland would use before casting their vote.

The BBC noted that Scotland's first minister has said a referendum could be held before the end of 2023 in spite of the novel coronavirus pandemic making "everything harder".

"There are always challenges, big challenges, and I think it's important we do not underplay them," Sturgeon said. "Everything has become harder, but the point I'm making is if we decide not to become independent and stay in the UK, that doesn't magic away these difficulties and challenges."

Sturgeon is set to deliver a major speech on Monday at the SNP's party conference.

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