Mixed feelings of Scots

Sociologists reported the highest levels of support for independence in the country at all, but growing euroscepticism. Scots want independence more than they have been in the last 18 years. But, it seems, they have become more Eurosceptic than a year ago, when 62% of them voted against the country's exit from the EU. This shows the longest ongoing regular academic study of Scottish sentiment among voters The Social Attitudes Survey, conducted by the Centre for Social Research ScotCen. Academic research is also a yawning discrepancy between votes of Scots Brexit of the referendum and expressed their attitude towards the EU in the study.

More voices "for" independence

According to the survey, conducted since 1999 among about 1,200 people, support for leaving the union between Edinburgh and London reached 46% - the highest value since the beginning of the study. In comparison, on the eve of the referendum in 2014 ScotCen throwing support for the country's independence from only 33%. The study comes a day after two major Scottish newspapers - tabloid Daily Mail Scotland and The Times Scotland, made their own inquiries about the mood of the Scots against potential second referendum on independence. According to the results of the Daily Mail, 53% of Scots want to remain part of the UK against 47% who would leave. The Times poll indicates a slightly greater margin - 57 percent in favor of staying in the UK against 43% for the exit. The difference between the two newspaper studies and academic research in that first show short-term sentiment among Scots, the second relies on long-term trends in their views.

Increasingly Eurosceptic paradoxically

In 2014, 44% of Scots over 16 rightly said aloud his desire to leave the country UK. These were 1.618 mln. People. Just over 2 million. People wished to remain part of the United Kingdom. An interesting detail is that according to the survey of ScotCen over 72% of 16-24 year olds support independence, while only 26% of people over 65 want Scotland to separate. If these sentiments prove to be sustainable, it is possible a few decades in the country to form a critical mass of young people who support independence.

Academic research is also a large discrepancy between votes of Scots Brexit of the referendum and expressed their attitude towards the EU in the study. In the referendum, 62% of them have asked the country to remain a member of the EU. However, over 67% of respondents from ScotCen said they want Britain to leave the union or to limit his powers. According to the study ScotCen skepticism at Scots also increases and the highest levels since the beginning of measurements in 1999. This raises the question why the Scots voted "for" staying in the EU and the answer may have more to do with their hatred to London than their close feelings towards Brussels.The uncertainty of the upcoming negotiation process between Britain and the EU led the prime minister Nicola Sturgeon to push for a second referendum in late 2018 or early 2019. Both the EU and NATO said that if Scotland leaves the UK, it can not automatically remain a member of the organization.