THE media are giving the “false impression” that people in Scotland care about independence, a Tory MP has claimed.
John Cooper, who represents Dumfries and Galloway at Westminster, told the local democracy reporting service that he believed people are in fact “heartily sick” of calls for a second independence referendum.
Cooper was speaking after First Minister John Swinney said there would be “no mucking about” at the 2026 Holyrood elections, and people would be clear that a vote for the SNP was a vote for independence.
The SNP leader further said that he was “only interested” in a legally agreed referendum and not other proposals to achieve independence, such as using the Holyrood list vote as a de facto ballot on the issue.
Speaking in response to Swinney’s remarks, Cooper told the local democracy reporting service he was fed up with the “independence bandwagon” being wheeled out.
“It’s really disappointing because even just talking about it means it’s a distraction – and therefore we’re not dealing with the things that really matter,” he said.
“Despite the fact that there’s not an election on immediately, we continue to go up and down Dumfries and Galloway knocking on doors, talking to people.
“During the summer recess, I’ve been visiting different areas and handing out contact cards to constituents.
“When I’m talking to people out and about, and ask them what their priorities are, they tell me that it’s jobs, the economy, schooling, the NHS.
“They very rarely mention independence. So, when you see a poll in the media describing ‘support for independence’ at whatever level, then that gives the false impression that people are talking about that issue.
“That’s not really the case. These opinion polls have simply involved people being approached and being asked, ‘so what’s your opinion of independence?’
“They might say yeah. They might say no. That’ll then be reported. But if you actually ask people, ‘what are your priorities?’, I have no doubt that Scottish independence is way, way down the list.”
He added: “There’s just not a public appetite for it. I think it would be obvious if the country was crying out for another independence referendum – you would know about it.
“We are anywhere near that at the moment. Quite the opposite – I think people are heartily sick of it.
“They see it as a distraction, and just want politicians to tackle the issues that really matter to them.”
Swinney said a second referendum would allow the SNP to make “Scotland’s energy wealth work for Scotland” and make “fair and equitable” changes to the welfare system.
He said: “It only happens if we have that referendum and we only get that referendum if a majority of SNP MSPs are elected next May.”
A majority would require the SNP to win 65 of 129 seats in parliament in the 2026 elections.
Professor John Curtice has said that a Yes majority, followed by a hung Westminster parliament in 2029, is what he sees as the “most likely” route to indyref2.
