Scottish voters don’t want second referendum – but the SNP are refusing to rule one out

Nicola Sturgeon is refusing to rule out a second independence referendum while SNP candidates are talking up the prospect – despite a majority of Scottish voters opposing another vote on the subject. However, this is not yet affecting the Scottish Nationalists’ support, with a new poll today showing one of their best results yet.

A Survation poll for the Daily Record today shows an 19 point lead for those opposing a new referendum on Scottish independence, with 51% saying they oppose the idea and just 32% supporting it.

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said that the SNP’s implicit support for a another referendum showed they had the wrong priorities for Scotland:

“The majority of Scots don’t want another referendum, but it’s clear that’s what the SNP are planning by refusing to rule one out from their manifesto next year. When so many people are on exploitative zero hours contracts and when some working families need to rely on foodbanks, Labour’s priority will be tackling inequality not another referendum.”

Scottish Labour have also produced an online video, showing Nicola Sturgeon describing last year’s referendum as “a once in a lifetime opportunity”, before receiving a poor reception when she then refused to rule out another at the Scottish leaders debate. It also sees SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie say that “the cause of independence is not dead”. You can watch the video below:

The latest poll of voting intention in Scotland continues to spell bad news for Labour. Today’s Ipsos-MORI poll for STV puts the SNP on 54% – 34 points ahead of Scottish Labour, their biggest poll lead to date. According to STV’s election outcome predictor, based on universal swing, it could mean the SNP win all of Scotland’s 59 seats.

SNP 45%, Labour 20%, Conservatives 17%, Lib Dems 5%, Green 2%

This follows polls earlier this week that gave the SNP leads of 21 and 32 points respectively.

Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, responded to today’s poll by warning that voting against Labour increases the chance of the Tories being the largest party in the UK – which makes it more likely that David Cameron will remain in Number 10. She said:

“A vote for anyone other than Labour makes it more likely the Tories will be the largest party across the UK and that David Cameron will walk back into Downing Street. That would be a disaster for Scotland, but it’s what could happen if this poll is repeated on election day. We can’t afford to take that gamble with the future of Scotland.”