Survation independence poll: Half of Scots support Yes vote

A new study by Survation for the Sunday Mail found 50% of Scots would vote to leave the Union, once don’t knows are removed.

Overall, 44% of respondents said they would vote No if a referendum was held tomorrow, while 43% said they’d back Yes.

It’s the first poll in 23 that’s not recorded majority support for independence.

Survation’s last study, in January, put support for independence on 51%, once undecided voters were removed.

CEO Damian Lyons Lowe said: “This is the first polling since June last year to show that Yes has lost its lead over the No camp.

“Survation also saw only a small two-point lead for Yes in our polling in January, so it is conceivable we’re seeing opinion becoming entirely split over the question of independence.”

READ MORE: Independence supported by majority of Scots, 22nd consecutive poll shows

A total of 1000 voters in Scotland were polled by Survation for the new study.

Respondents were also asked for their views on the ongoing feud between Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

Half stated Sturgeon should resign if she was found to have broken the ministerial code of conduct, while 33% believed she should remain as First Minister if ministerial code had been broken.

Ahead of the Holyrood election in May, 43% said the SNP had been in government too long, with 41% disagreeing.

Responding to the poll, SNP depute leader Keith Brown MSP said: “With the election fast approaching, polls are tightening. The SNP believes Scotland’s future should be decided by the people of Scotland – not Boris Johnson.

READ MORE: SNP's indyref2 war chest piles pressure on Unionist parties and Westminster

“The SNP continues to have Scotland’s best interest at heart, and will work hard every day to maintain the trust and confidence of the Scottish people.

“The people of Scotland have shown, in poll after poll and election after election, that they place their trust in Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP to lead Scotland through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond."

Unionist politicians responded to the poll by attacking the SNP.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond are fighting like ferrets in a sack but the divisions run right through the SNP – it’s beyond them and infecting the whole party.

“People need honesty and accountability in their politicians. Sadly, we have seen little of that from the SNP in recent weeks and months.”

A Scottish Conservative spokesman commented: “Only the Scottish Conservatives can prevent an SNP majority, stop another divisive referendum and get the Scottish Parliament 100% focused on rebuilding Scotland.”