The SNP suffered a blow as even its own supporters cast doubt on the party’s economic predictions for independence this weekend. Speaking to German broadcaster DW, one SNP supporter Howie Nicholsby, a kilt maker, blasted the lack of a “business strategy and plan about how it’s actually going to work”. This comes amid dwindling poll support for Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP ahead of next week’s elections.
Mr Nicholsby told DW: “I feel Scottish first. Scottish society is different to English, Welsh and Irish society. We have our own culture, music and language, art and history.
“But I only want an independent Scotland if it’s good for Scotland and the Scottish people.
“It feels too much like it is politicians and politics and party rivalry rather than on a business level and strategy and plan about how it’s actually going to work.”
DW’s Birgit Maass said: “Nicholsby voted in favour of Scottish independence in 2014, and still thinks Scotland should be an autonomous country.
“But Brexit and the pandemic have given him doubts. He thinks independence could be risky, diving society and even his family.”
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One person in Edinburgh told DW that Scotland simply “can’t afford” independence, saying: “I think we should stay in the union.
“I didn’t want Brexit, it’s been a nightmare, so why would you want to break up a union that is hundreds and hundreds years old?
“It would cost a lot of money, it would be terrible for the economy and I don’t think Scotland can afford to be independent.”
Another person added: “We have a devolved parliament, they have taxation powers, they have quite a lot of power. So I don’t see what else they want?”
John Elliott, a Scottish farmer who works along the Scottish border with England also questioned the SNP’s plans.
The remarks come as a new Savanta ComRes survey suggested that if a referendum on Scottish independence were to be held tomorrow, the result would be broadly similar to the 2014 vote.
The Savanta ComRes survey found that 54 percent of Scots support the Union, with 46 percent wanting to leave the UK.
The poll also found that support for the SNP has dwindled and that the party may lose two seats, falling four short of a majority.
Speaking about the recent Svanata ComRes survey, Chris Hopkins the associate director said: “The direction of travel has been clear in the last few polls.
“Support for both independence and the SNP dropping ahead of the May elections.”
