Support for Scottish independence has plummeted to 40 percent among Scottish voters, according to a new poll, further undermining First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for another referendum.
According to a survey published on Tuesday by Kantar Scottish Opinion Monitor, support for another independence vote is “weakening,” as up to 60 percent support remaining part of the UK.
Sturgeon recently won the Scottish Parliament’s blessing to seek a second independence referendum, to be held at some point between autumn 2018 and spring 2019.
The last independence referendum held in September 2014 saw 55 percent vote against independence, with 45 percent in favor.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May, however, has already said “now is not the time” for another referendum, as she claimed it would not be fair for the Scottish people to vote without knowing the actual terms of Brexit.
Sturgeon faces a fresh blow, as the latest poll found that a mere 26 percent back her ambition to hold a vote within her proposed timeframe, while 46 percent are completely opposed to a vote taking place at all.
A total of 1,060 Scots aged 16 and above were questioned between the end of March and the beginning of April, after Sturgeon secured the Scottish parliament’s approval.