Politicians will tell you the only poll that matters is when voters cast their ballots on election days.
But any MP or MSP would be lying if they said they didn’t obsessively scrutinise every survey carried out by the big polling companies.
For the last decade, at least, the biggest draw in the polling game is asking Scots if they are for or against independence.
In recent years, the answers have generally told us what we already knew – that society is roughly divided 50/50 on the big constitutional question.
But the poll out yesterday was an eye-opener.
When the results of people who didn’t offer a preference were excluded from the total, 55 per cent of those surveyed said they would vote Yes at a future referendum.
That’s up five percentage points since May and is the highest support for Indy in more than a year.
The survey also revealed one of the biggest reasons for this surge in support.
According to the poll, Boris Johnson’s ratings are at their lowest ever level – with just 16 per cent of Scots satisfied with his performance.
Many people will have made up their mind on the independence question long before Johnson entered Downing Street.
But it can’t be repeated too often that his deep unpopularity in Scotland is a huge problem for all pro-Union parties.
And on the flip side, a huge advantage to the SNP.
With Johnson in Downing Street, it’s little wonder Scots are looking for alternatives.
Security for kids
THE £1million compensation package awarded to the children of Lamara Bell is an appropriate settlement – but no amount of money will make up for what these youngsters lost when police failings led to the deaths of Lamara and her partner John Yuill.
The children were aged five and 10 at the time of the tragedy.
James McMillan, Kieran’s grandfather and guardian, has told how the lad has “suffered intensely” over the loss of the mum.
Much is known about Police Scotland’s failure to respond to reports of the 2015 crash on the M9 but the family say they feel justice is yet to be done.
They are waiting for answers on what exactly happened to Lamara and John and hope an expected Fatal Accident Inquiry will bring some sort of closure.
In the meantime, the compensation payout will at least provide some financial security for the kids as they grow up without their mum.
