THE Tories have been warned against trying to block a second independence referendum after a new poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of Scots want the Scottish Government to organise the vote within the next parliamentary term.
The Panelbase survey was carried out for the pro-independence Scot Goes Pop polling blog.
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It asked voters if the Scottish Government should “ensure the Scottish people are given a choice on independence over the course of the next Parliamentary term, or should it accept the UK Government has a veto on an independence referendum”. Some 63% said it should be up to the Scottish Government.
Meanwhile, 37% said they wanted the UK government to have a veto.
And in a clear sign of how things have changed since 2014, 39% of No voters agreed that it should be a decision made in Edinburgh.
Those who rejected the Tory veto included 60% of Labour voters, 46% of Lib Dems and 93% of SNP supporters. Just 14% of 2019’s Tory voters felt the same way.
The question is the latest to be released from a stunning new poll published by the blog last week.
The survey also put support for independence up at 56% ahead – the highest ever Yes vote recorded by Panelbase.
It’s the 14th poll in a row to put support for Yes ahead of No.
In yesterday’s Sunday National, the SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford suggested Scots could be asked to vote on the question as soon as next year.
He said that the next referendum “must take place in 2021”.
It comes as reports suggest Boris Johnson is to launch a new drive against independence at next weekend’s virtual Scottish Tory conference.
READ MORE: Indyref2 will be held next year, says Ian Blackford
The Prime Minister’s approach is supposedly going to be more co-operative and “less abrasive”.
According to the Daily Express, the PM is expected to say that cooperation is extremely important due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And he is also expected to call for a civil and “tuneful” relationship with Nicola Sturgeon and SNP ministers.
A Whitehall source told the paper Johnson will seek “a softer relationship” with the First Minister.
They added: “At this time it’s pivotal to focus on the pandemic but we note the increasing support for independence.
“A change in tone is needed to ensure everyone is on the same page.
“But we also need to make the Scottish people aware of the benefits of staying in the UK.”
It’s not clear if that softer approach includes the Prime Minister agreeing to a renewed request for a Section 30 order in the event of a pro-independence landslide at next May’s Holyrood election.
The SNP’s Depute Leader Keith Brown said it would be “Trump-like” for the Tory leader to do anything but agree to a new vote.
He said: ”This poll shows the people of Scotland overwhelmingly oppose Boris Johnson’s Trump-like bid to deny democracy by trying to ignore any election result that doesn’t suit him and the Tories.”
He added: “At next year’s election, we will make the case for Scotland to become an independent country, and seek a clear endorsement of Scotland’s right to choose a better future as an equal independent, European nation.”
READ MORE: 'Stubbornly high' coronavirus rates fuel speculation of Scottish lockdown
Another question asked by the pollsters was on the issue of currency after independence.
Added at the request of the Scottish Currency Group, the survey asked voters if they agreed with the position adopted by the SNP following a grassroots rebellion at their conference in 2019.
Voters were asked to what extent they agreed with introducing a new currency “as soon as practicable after independence day, to ensure that Scotland has control over its own monetary and fiscal policy and interest rates.”
That position was backed by 59% of all voters, and rejected by 41%.
Surprisingly, it was backed by slightly more than a fifth of all Tory voters.
Half of all Labour’s 2019 voters, and 43% of the Lib Dems and 87% of the SNP’s backed the position.
It was also overwhelmingly backed by 86% of Yes voters, and 37% of No voters.
Tim Rideout from the currency group welcomed the result: “People are now recognising that.
“If you want to control your interest rates and things then you have to have your own currency, you can’t do it using somebody else’s currency.”
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