New poll reveals only 19% of Scots see independence as their top priority

In a new poll by Savanta ComRes, only 1 in 5 Scots place Scottish independence as their top priority ahead of May’s elections. 

The new poll revealed that just 19% of Scots saw Scotland’s independence as a top priority issue. A large majority (70%) also said that they would be unlikely to vote for Alex Salmond’s new Alba party – which may not score a single seat. 

Of the 1000 people surveyed, 45% placed the current state of the economy as their top concern, with education coming second at 31%. Only 25% or 1 in 4 Scots saw Brexit as the number one issue. 

However, a small majority of those polled (53%) believed that if a referendum should take place, it must be within the next 5 years. 22% said that they wanted a future referendum ruled out entirely. 

With May’s elections heating up, and following a period of intense campaigning that was paused by the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Scotland’s main parties are set to battle it out over the coming weeks.

Campaigning is set to resume this week, with the issue of a 2nd Scottish referendum, the unlocking of the economy post-pandemic, and a roadmap for a greener economy set to dominate the debates.