Nicola Sturgeon and Douglas Ross clash in election debate
The Scottish public voted to remain part of the UK back in 2014 but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has continued to call for a second referendum on independence. Ms Sturgeon has been accused of focusing on independence rather than the coronavirus pandemic.
But now, voters have spoken out about Scottish independence, exposing the division among the Scottish public.
IT specialist Heather Herber told Politico: “We’ve seen with the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland how difficult it is to have a land border between an EU and non-EU state.
“If Scotland were to become independent and rejoin Europe, the border with England would be impossible.”
Alison Watters, an activist and campaigner, claimed Ms Sturgeon has “delayed independence unnecessarily”.
Nicola Sturgeon faces Holyrood crisis (Image: Getty)
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (Image: Getty)
Ms Watters said: “She’s delayed independence unnecessarily, I think, and she’s wasted too much time on trying to delay a Brexit which England voted for, on interfering in another country’s democracy.”
Another voter who backed independence back in 2014 said he is now a supporter of remaining part of the UK.
John Donaldson, from Glasgow, told Politico: “I hate this blaming Westminster for everything, always acting like the victim.
“The Scottish psyche is all about being the underdog, but there’s a difference between being an underdog and a victim.
READ MORE: ‘Reckless!’ Sturgeon attacked for pushing independence over recovery
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (Image: Getty)
“The whole victim mentality is very unhealthy.”
While another swing voter said they need a “coherent strategy” from the SNP on how an independent Scotland could “fund the current levels of social spending”.
SNP Westminster deputy leader Kirsten Oswald said: “The SNP will work hard for every vote and take nothing for granted.
“[Backing the party is] the only way to guarantee that Scotland’s future is in Scotland’s hands — not Boris Johnson’s.
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Nicola Sturgeon profile (Image: Express)
“A growing number of people have moved from ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ and want to see Scotland become independent so we can build the fairer society.”
Ms Sturgeon’s independence dream were dashed last month as a poll found the majority of respondents would vote no in a second referendum.
The poll found just 45 percent of Scots would vote yes if the vote was held tomorrow, with 47 percent of those surveyed saying no.
Only eight percent said they would not know how to vote.
Scottish leaders had their first debate last week (Image: Getty)
Last week, Scottish party leaders took part in a TV debate to kick-start the election campaign.
Going head-to-head was Ms Sturgeon (SNP), Douglas Ross (Scottish Conservatives), Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour), Lorna Slater (Scottish Greens), Willie Rennie (Scottish Liberal Democrats).
While taking questions from audience members, Ms Sturgeon was criticised for prioritising independence over the pandemic.
Responding to a question, Ms Sturgeon said: “People have seen me literally every single day lead the country’s fight against Covid and I will continue to do that for every single day that is required.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (Image: Getty)
“But as we come out of this crisis and focus on recovery, the country you are trying to rebuild depends on the decisions Government takes.
“As long as decisions lie in the hands of Boris Johnson and many at Westminster, the danger is we taker the wrong decisions, just as we have been dragged out of the EU against our will.
“Every day, my focus is now on Covid. Part of our economic recovery has to be tackling poverty.”
Scotland will go to the polls on May 6.
The poll, conducted for The Scotsman by Savanta ComRes, asked 1,009 Scottish adults aged 16 and over between March 5 and 10.
