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Poll finds majority see too much focus on independence

Poll finds majority see too much focus on independence

Almost half of Scots think independence tops the Scottish Government’s agenda and 61% say ministers are getting their priorities wrong, according to a new poll.

The finding has emerged from Lord Ashcroft’s research on Scottish political attitudes, which quizzed more than 10,000 people.

Most said the economy and jobs should be the main focus, something just 7% reckoned the Scottish Government prioritised.

When asked “What do you think the Scottish Government is treating as its main priority at the moment?” 49% said, unprompted, independence.

A further 61% said they thought those in charge of policy at Holyrood had the wrong priorities, compared to 36% who said they were getting it right.

Some 77% of those in favour of Scottish independence said they thought the Scottish Government had the right priority, while 79% of those who opposed independence thought it had the wrong priority.

Lord Ashcroft said: “Asked what they thought was at the top of the administration’s agenda, half spontaneously named the independence campaign seven times as many as mentioned the economy and jobs.

“Only just over a third said they thought the current priority was right; asked what the Scottish Government should focus on instead, the economy topped the list.”

Meanwhile, the poll also found that four in 10 Scots admitted to having “very little idea” what the Scottish Parliament is responsible for and which powers remain with Westminster.

Only 14% said they had a “very good idea” of Holyrood’s responsibilities, while 44% said they had “some idea”.

Nearly two thirds said the provision of free services like prescriptions, university tuition, social care, eye tests and the scrapping of road tolls were the Scottish Government’s main achievements.

Despite that positive, 59% thought taxes would rise, and 55% thought borrowing and debt would go up, if the Scottish Parliament were given responsibility for all decisions about tax and spending.

Only 29% thought public services would improve.

Just over half of those surveyed said Westminster and Holyrood elections were equally important, with 27% saying who represents communities in the House of Commons mattered more and 18% backing the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Labour’s Johann Lamont was the only party leader to poll a positive rating, although four in 10 had never heard, or had no opinion, of her.

Half said the same of Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and 38% of Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.