OK, you've probably already seen this story earlier today on Wings, but you know me - I just couldn't resist the headline. (It's a fond tribute to a characteristically unhinged headline that was run by either the Express or the Mail - God knows which - not long after Indyref 1.)
Which government do you think should make the decision about whether there should be a new referendum on Scottish independence? (Panelbase, Don't Knows excluded)
The Scottish government: 57%
The UK government: 43%
Tellingly, even if Don't Knows are taken into account, there is still an absolute majority (51%) in favour of the Scottish Government making the decision.
One of the problems we've had since the EU referendum is that a lot of voters seem quite ambivalent on whether a second vote on independence should take place over the next few years, meaning that polls asking about that point produce very different results depending on exactly how the question is framed. As most polls are commissioned by anti-independence clients, it's unsurprising that in the majority of cases the question is worded in a way that produces a result that can be spun negatively. That has given the UK government some cover for their "now is not the time" delaying tactics, but of course what those polls generally don't bother asking is whether this should even be any of the UK government's business. Quite clearly, the majority view is that it should not be.
Indeed, given that it's common knowledge that the SNP are minded to hold a referendum in the relatively near future, it's highly significant that an absolute majority of voters are content that the Scottish government - not even the parliament as a whole, but a government consisting of the SNP only - should be left to make a unilateral decision. That finding may well come in very useful over the months to come, depending on exactly what Nicola Sturgeon and her advisers have in mind.
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I have a new article in the January issue of iScot magazine, and it's considerably more topical than I expected it to be, because it's partly about Neil Oliver. If you're not a subscriber to the print edition of the magazine, a preview of the article can be found on Twitter HERE, and a full digital copy can be purchased HERE.
James, how much would it take to do a real poll ? One with carefully worded questions? Like , would 2k pounds cover it?
ReplyDeleteI'm not venturing to reply on James' behalf, but it seems to me that we need a regular poll commissioned by a non-Unionist client - which would be us independence supporters in the final analysis. So, crowdfunding?
DeleteThe one thing we must avoid in any such exercise is any skewing or spinning of the truth - it's the truth we want, absolutely not the same thing as those pro-Union polls except in reverse.
The money would be better spent on Scots attending food banks instead of a bunch of middle class nat sis indulging in their fantasy.
DeleteExcellent! Another argument for independence! It's the Tory regime at Westminster that's responsible for food banks. Get rid of Westminster's power over us, and you get rid of food banks too.
DeleteTestify!
DeleteThe Jocko government has a far larger slice of the cake allocated per person than the English working class. The Jocko Government can budget to eradicate the food banks but choose not to, They can raise tax and allow councils to raise tax. The Tories are not to blame just the Tartan Tories...
ReplyDeleteyou are a nice guy arent you, why dont you make your government get rid of Scotland or is that too much like work, its easier just bad mouthing folk, get your fellow english to give their gov an ultimatum, get rid of the scots or we will not vote for you, that would really make you feel good
DeleteSandra are you a man or just looking for a big hunkie Unionist man? I am available any Wednesday afternoon.
DeleteWednesday afternoon? Lazy, bone idle slacker. Back to work with you.
DeleteGWC2, why are you a unionist? Why do you cling on to Scotland like your very life depends on it?
ReplyDeleteWhy do you hate the English and want to sell out Scotland to the EU fascists?
DeleteDidn't answer the questions, troll. You don't even know why you're a Unionist, do you?
DeleteYou asked two silly irrelevant questions nat si bhoy.
DeleteQED. It doesn't even know why it's a Unionist...
DeleteVery interesting poll. It would be even more interesting to see how the polling would spilt if there were a third option to the effect of ‘there should be agreement between the two governments which govern Scotland’.
ReplyDeleteMight come in handy next time there's a huge queue for the 'ladies' loo at Murrayfield Stadium. I can just nip into the 'Gents' declaring 'I'm a man.'
ReplyDelete