Brexit 'chaos and despair' could see Scots vote for independence, SNP claims

The SNP has said the “chaos and despair” of Brexit could result in a narrow majority of Scots voting for independence.

The party made the claim after a new poll finding more than a third of people were more likely to back leaving the UK after the country exits the EU.

Applying that to the result of the 2014 referendum – in which Scots voted by 55% to 45% to stay in the Union – could result in a 51.39% vote for independence, with 48.61% against, according to its analysis.

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said the figures showed a “significant swell in support for Scotland taking all decisions over our future for ourselves” following Britain’s departure from the EU.

He said: “As the chaos and despair at Westminster’s handling of Brexit continues, more and more people are drawn to the opportunities and hope for the future that independence offers.”

The research, carried out by Survation for Channel 4, has been described as the biggest piece of independent research on attitudes to Brexit, with 20,000 people across the UK questioned.

Overall it found that the UK would now vote to remain in the EU by a majority of 54% to 46%.

In Scotland, where 1,725 people were questioned, the poll found 64.7% want to stay part of the the EU, with 35.3% in favour of leaving – a larger majority in favour of remain than in the 2016 referendum.

Asked how Brexit would affect their vote in an independence referendum, 37.8% of Scots said they were more likely to back leaving the UK – with just over 26% much more likely to do so.

Meanwhile 25.4% said they were more likely to vote to stay in Britain, while 30.6% said they were neither more or less likely and 6.2% did not know.

More than half (53.8%) of Scots said Brexit would be bad for the economy, while 43.8% said it would have a negative impact on the NHS.

Meanwhile 45.2% of voters north of the border fear leaving the EU will be bad for their household finances.

Brown said: “People are right to be concerned about the harm that Brexit will do to our economy, our NHS and their household incomes. Brexit could cost every person in Scotland £2,300 a year and will put 80,000 jobs on the line.

“The more Tory and Labour politicians ignore Scotland’s interests and seek to stop us from making decisions over our future the more support for the SNP and independence will continue to grow.”