‘Brexit fuelling support for going it alone’

The pursuit of Brexit is undermining support for Scotland remaining in the UK, analysis of a study examining public opinion across the country has found.

Before the pandemic, all of those who shifted towards a pro - independence view had positive opinions of the EU, according to the research.

Professor Sir John Cur t ice and Ian Montagu also found most Scots are pessimistic about the consequences of Brexit.

The Scottish Centre for Social Research analysed data from Scottish Social Attitudes surveys conducted over the past several years.

The results of the 2019 survey were released at the end of September this year, covering the period between April 2019 and March 2020.

Of those who would vote Remain in another EU referendum, support for Scottish independence has gone from 44% in 2016 to 57% in the latest survey.

In contrast, among people who would vote Leave in another EU referendum, the proportion backing independence has fallen over the same period from 45% to 39%.

The survey also found 18% believe the UK’s economy would be better off in the wake of Brexit, while 43% feel Scotland ’s economy would improve under independence.

University of Strathclyde professor Sir John said: “For a significant body of people in Scotland, independence inside the EU has now come to look more attractive than being part of a UK that is outside the EU.”

“That may not have been either the wish or the intention of those who have advocated leaving the EU but that does not mean that they can afford to ignore the apparent consequences.”