ALEX Cole-Hamilton has claimed that views on independence are “a bit like whether you’ve got a belief in God or not” and that they do not motivate voters' actions at the ballot box.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, the Scottish LibDem Leader claimed that the “salience” of the independence debate has “dropped right down” in voters’ priorities.
He insisted that his party did not need a better position on a second independence referendum because the only people talking about the constitutional issue are the SNP and commentators.
It comes after a recent poll suggested that voters will return a pro-independence majority to the Scottish Parliament.
READ MORE: Yvette Cooper defends decision to ban Palestine Action
However, Cole-Hamilton told the programme that voters were not motivated to back the SNP at the upcoming Holyrood election on May 7, 2026.
When it was pointed out that a second referendum would be a motivator, as SNP leader John Swinney has set out that a majority for his party in the Scottish Parliament would qualify as a precedent for a fresh vote, Cole-Hamilton rejected this.
“I think obviously polls show successively that the country is divided on the question of independence, but the salience of that has dropped right down,” he said.
“It's a bit like whether you've got a belief in God or not.
“Everyone's got a view, but it doesn't motivate how you vote.
“What motivates people is who's going to give them fast access to their GP, NHS dentist at the first time of asking.
“Who's going to put PSAs into school classrooms and take mobile phones out.
“Who's going to drive down the cost of living by using renewable power to warm Scottish homes, and who is going to get Scotland moving again – fix our roads and ferries.”
Previously, Cole-Hamilton has said he wants to be Scotland’s next deputy first minister and that he would be open to serving under Anas Sarwar in a coalition with Scottish Labour.
Presenter Gary Robertson put it to Cole-Hamilton that even if he did not agree with the “notion of independence” then it would surely make sense for his party to have a “better position on another referendum” to “move that dial”.
The Scottish LibDem leader said “No”, adding: “Literally, the only people talking about this are the SNP and commentators, like your good self.”
READ MORE: The civil war within Labour is directly harming Scots, warns Stephen Flynn
When Robertson pointed out that “half of the public are asking for it”, Cole-Hamilton again rejected this.
“They're not asking for it,” he said.
“They're asked by pollsters, what do you think about independence, and people have a view. Of course, they've got a view. But actually, when you drill down, it's probably lower towards the bottom the table of people's salient issues that motivate their vote.
“What they want to know is, who's going to drive down my fuel bills? Who's going to insulate my home, who's going to make sure that my classroom for my child is safe and is supported by PSAs…”
