UK PM Under Pressure as British Voters Back Second Scottish Independence Referendum - FARS

 (FNA)- Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing intense pressure to allow a second Scottish independence referendum if the SNP win a majority at Holyrood on Thursday, after a new poll for The Independent showed British voters think he would be wrong to deny a fresh ballot.

The UK government argues that now is not the time for another vote and that politicians should focus on rebuilding the economy in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP has stated outright victory in this week’s Holyrood elections would be a mandate for a second referendum.

A new BMG poll for The Independent suggests Britons agree.

The survey found that 41 percent of those asked said Johnson should allow another vote within four years if pro-independence parties win a majority in the Scottish Parliament this week, compared to just 33 percent who opposed and 26 percent who said they did not know.

The poll also shows Johnson would be under heavily expected to win another referendum.

Just 19 percent said Scottish independence would be positive for the UK, while 41 percent believe it would be negative.

The only part of the UK where voters were more likely to back Johnson’s position than oppose it was in Scotland.

There 41 percent thought the prime minister should grant another referendum while 44 percent thought he should not.

In response, Sturgeon noted, "What this poll shows is that Boris Johnson and the Tories can’t deny democracy forever."

“When the Scottish Parliament decides it is the right time for the people of Scotland to choose their future, it would be foolish for a Westminster Tory government to stand the way of the democratic will of the people of Scotland,” she added.

But a UK government spokesperson stated the SNP’s push for a “divisive referendum” was “irresponsible”.