Scotland is more likely to become independent if Liz Truss becomes prime minister, according to a new opinion poll across the UK. The Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times shows that Truss is almost as unpopular in Scotland as Boris Johnson.
The Panelbase survey of 1,133 adults in Scotland showed 49 per cent support for independence and 51 per cent for the union, when the don’t knows have been removed. Support for staying in the UK falls slightly to 48 per cent if Truss becomes Prime Minister in two weeks time, and to 49 per cent if her rival Rishi Sunak takes over at Downing Street.
In January, just over a quarter of people polled thought that a Truss premiership would lead to Scottish independence. That has risen to nearly 40 per cent, putting her almost on a par with Johnson, the most unpopular Prime Minister in Scotland since Margaret Thatcher.
Only a third of Scots expect independence to happen if Labour’s Keir Starmer wins the next election. Both Tory candidates to be Prime Minister have ruled out granting powers for a second referendum demanded by Nicola Sturgeon for next year.
Truss intends to turn the Boris Johnson and Michael Gove “lovebomb” strategy of Scotland into a far more robust attack on nationalism. Truss wants to brand the SNP as “separatists” and to fight back against the idea of the break-up of the UK being described as independence.
In the Perth hustings debate last week Rishi Sunak said it was “quite frankly barmy” for the SNP to pursue an independence referendum. He promised not to ignore the first minister but to “take her on and beat her”.
The research also suggests that Northern Ireland is on course to leave the UK within 20 years.
Sir John Curtice, the Scottish polling guru, commented: “Simply arguing that another referendum should not be held at all seems unlikely to win many converts. While 44 per cent oppose a referendum in the next five years, 48 per cent are in favour.
“And only 37 per cent believe the UK Government should make the decision on [whether to hold] another ballot, while 52 per cent reckon the Scottish Government should do so.
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