Six ways Nationalists manipulate polls

#2 Ask questions that won’t be asked

Why didn’t James use my poll question?

When faced with years of waiting for a second referendum that will never come, while Scottish services continue to go down the toilet, would you rather leave the country now or in six months?

Joking (not really) aside, Nationalist pollsters simply don’t want to ask questions about the issues people actually care about: health, education, jobs, economy. And they certainly don’t want to ask questions about a hard border, abandoning the pound and isolation in Europe.

But, we have this information, because non-Nationalist pollsters do ask those questions.

The latest survey of 1,008 Scots, conducted between September 10 and 12, found that if the pound is replaced with a new Scottish currency, then 42% would be less likely to vote for independence, with 16% more likely, while there would be no difference for 35%.

If a hard border is introduced between Scotland and England, then 43% less likely to vote for independence, with 18% more likely, while there would be no difference for 31%.

The prospect of an independent Scotland being outside both the UK and the EU for several years would see 42% of Scots become less likely to back independence, while 15% would be more likely and it would make no difference for third (33%).

Respondents were then asked how they would vote in a referendum with the question ‘Should Scotland remain in the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?’

After considering the issues put, 56% said they would vote to remain in the UK and 44% would vote to leave, when undecided voters were excluded.

Awkward! Sometimes the terrible truth is revealed inside the detail of Nationalist polls. Here’s what Angus Robertson doesn’t want you to see:

For example, even among those who totally, completely support Separation (8 to 10), only 5% support moving to a new Scottish currency in the short term. Few want to abandon the stability of the pound.

While Scottish ‘independence’ is something that many people have a strong feeling for, the reality of Separation is a different matter altogether. And after Brexit, the last thing people want is more constitutional wrangling.

A total of 72% said they wanted [2021]’s Holyrood election debate to focus on the economy and public services “ahead of other issues such as Scottish independence”.

Among SNP voters in the 2019 general election, 35% said a second independence referendum is not a priority while 18% ranked constitutional affairs and independence as a top priority for Scotland.

We are being held hostage by 18% of SNP voters. Stop pandering to them and get on with the day job.