Voters in Scotland would still overwhelmingly vote to remain part of the UK, according to a new poll in the run up to the tenth anniversary of the referendum.
Nearly six in ten adults said they would reject separation, while only 7% of respondents said independence is one of the most important issues that the current Scottish Government should prioritise.
Nearly two-thirds said the NHS should be the priority, followed by the cost of living and the economy and jobs.
Three-quarters of people in Scotland also want the Scottish and UK governments to work together more closely.
This new Survation poll asked: “if there was a referendum with the question 'should Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?', how would you vote?” – with 59% choosing “remain” and 41% selecting “leave”.
Those who want to stay part of the UK include 18% of people who voted for the SNP in July’s general election. While many have changed their mind in both directions since the 2014 referendum, reasons cited by those who voted ‘yes’ and would now vote ‘remain’ included “on reflection I think we are better as one”, “SNP have made a mess in Scotland”, and “the bad experience of Brexit shows that being part of a larger group has more benefits than independence”.
Presented with several scenarios, more than half of respondents said they would be less likely to vote to leave the UK if their personal income was reduced or public spending on health and education was reduced.
The poll of 1,021 people aged 16 and over in Scotland, which was conducted in late August, suggests it is currently neck-and-neck between Scottish Labour and the SNP ahead of the next Holyrood election.
Alastair Cameron, founder and chair of Scotland in Union, said:
“Ten years on from the referendum, when the people of Scotland chose a positive future as part of the UK, the majority of voters still want to remain.
“Over the past decade, the referendum result has ensured that more money has been available to spend on vital public services like health and education, and Scottish businesses and workers have benefited from the economic ties with the rest of the UK, which is by far our biggest trade market.
“The SNP’s relentless campaign to re-run the referendum has detracted from the important job of government.
“People want their politicians to prioritise what really matters – tackling the cost of living, creating jobs, and delivering housing.
“With a new administration at Westminster it is vital that both governments work together on behalf of everyone in Scotland.
“And as the 2026 Holyrood election moves closer, there is a clear opportunity for Scots to move on from years of nationalist failure by voting for one of the three main pro-UK parties."
This new polling published today has been reported in the Daily Record, Holyrood Magazine/Website, Scottish Express, The Scotsman, The Times, The Herald and more.
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Poll conducted by Survation on behalf of Scotland in Union.
Part 1:
Poll summary available here.
Poll tables available here.
Part 2:
Poll summary available here.
Poll tables available here.
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