Scottish independence: Brexit and Nicola Sturgeon's handling of Covid is helping to turn the tide – Angus Robertson

Public opinion in Scotland is changing with an ever-growing number of people looking at things with new eyes. At the weekend we learned that a record 64 per cent of voters in Scotland believe that Scotland will become independent.

Support for independence is growing, says Angus Robertson (Picture: John Devlin)

In significant findings on changing voter attitudes, the Survation poll of 2,093 respondents found that almost one-third of 2014 No voters would now vote Yes or are unsure about how they would vote. Nearly twice as many No voters have moved to Yes than have in the opposite direction.

The results published by my research organisation Progress Scotland showed an underlying movement in attitudes from No towards Yes on a ten-point scale compared to previous comparative polling.

Top issues for deciding how to vote in the referendum were: the NHS, the future of the economy, and Brexit/EU membership. The top ten also included the Scottish Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the performance of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

A clear majority of respondents who hold an opinion are in favour of a second independence referendum taking place if a pro-independence majority of MSPs are elected to the Scottish Parliament next year. Fifty-six per cent said such a vote should go ahead while 44 per cent were opposed.

Other important findings include: 68% of respondents with an opinion believe that the UK Government will not transfer relevant powers from the EU to the Scottish Parliament and will damage the devolution arrangement. Also: 73% agree that Brexit makes Scottish independence more likely.

While coronavirus is dominating the headlines and people’s concerns about health and the economy, views are also clearly evolving about Scotland’s future.

Nicola Sturgeon's handling of the Covid crisis has helped persuade voters of the merits of independence (Picture: Scottish Government/Flickr)

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