STRIKING findings from a new poll have revealed the majority of Scots think the country will become independent – and believe there should be another referendum.
It also found a significant number want to keep the pound after independence day.
In the survey of more than 2000 people who are “open-minded or undecided” on Scottish independence, 63% said they thought Scotland would become an independent country while 37% said they did not think it would happen.
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Asked if they would vote for independence if they were convinced it would be good for the economy, 77% said they would, with just 5% saying they wouldn’t.
On currency after independence, 47% said Scotland should keep the pound in the long term, 23% thought the country should keep the pound in the short term before switching to a new Scottish currency when economic tests had been met, 14% were in favour of adopting the Euro and 6% wanted to switch to a Scottish currency in the short term.
The survey conducted by Survation for new polling and research organisation Progress Scotland found 61% thought there should be another referendum on Scottish independence with just 39% disagreeing.
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However only 48% thought this would be likely within the next two years with 44% thinking it was unlikely. Asked if it was likely in the next five years, the majority (59%) said yes while 32% said it was unlikely.
Questioned on whether they thought independence would be good for the Scottish economy in the long run, 40% agreed, 17% disagreed, while nearly a third (30%) neither agreed nor disagreed and 12% said they didn’t know.
Regardless of which political party is in power, 74% said the Scottish Parliament/Government should have control over all decisions affecting people in Scotland with just 6% disagreeing. Progress Scotland has previously released findings that Brexit is now the most important issue determining views on an independence vote – up from 22% in 2014 to 43% today.
One fifth of respondents (21%) who voted in the 2014 Scottish referendum have changed how they would vote on Scottish independence or say they are not sure about how they would vote now.
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Independent polling expert Mark Diffley, who designed the questions for the Progress Scotland poll said: “While the evidence on attitudes to independence continues to show a country divided broadly along the lines of the 2014 vote, there is also an expectation among many, including some who voted against independence, that it is likely to happen.”
Progress Scotland managing director Angus Robertson added: “These polling results show the value of this research, showing that a majority of all respondents expressing an opinion believe that Scottish independence will happen and that an independence referendum will and should happen.
“Our particular focus is on people who are open-minded or undecided on independence ... we have asked a series of interesting questions of this group covering the economy, governance, defence and security and Europe. This is just the beginning of research by Progress Scotland and we are very grateful of the support of thousands who help fund our work.”
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