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The National
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
The lesson for the SNP as new poll puts independence support at 54%
It's strikingly similar to a string of polls a few years ago which claimed there would be a big boost in independence support, in some cases taking the Yes vote into the high 50s, if Britain voted to leave the EU, or if Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, or if the UK government negotiated a hard Brexit rather than a soft Brexit. All of those three events came to pass, and yet the predicted instant effect on Yes support didn't materialise. The reason is that people are generally bad at answering hypothetical questions accurately, and sometimes think a possible future event will have more of an impact on their own political attitudes than actually proves to be the case. It's far more important, then, that the Norstat poll shows that real independence support in the here-and-now stands at a very handsome 54%, a gain of four percentage points since the previous poll in the series. That may well imply that the increasing danger of Farage grabbing the keys to 10 Downing Street has already shifted some voters into the Yes camp. And it's worth remembering that it's perfectly possible for hypothetical questions in polls to underestimate the impact of future events, as well as to overestimate them. It's unlikely that many people in early 1979 would have guessed the full extent of the transformative effect that Margaret Thatcher's premiership was about to have on support for both devolution and independence over the course of 11 years. If Nigel Farage takes office and starts acting in a way that is fundamentally at odds with Scottish values, as Mrs Thatcher did, or if he tries to abolish or neuter the Scottish Parliament, a sea-change in public opinion could be triggered that might take the Yes vote well beyond the predicted 58% mark. READ MORE: Nigel Farage visit to Aberdeen met by anti-racism protesters There's a much more immediate concern about the impact of Farage and Reform UK on Scottish politics, though. The word from the ground in the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election is that Reform are performing strongly, that they have a good chance of overtaking Labour to finish second, and that they may even have an outside chance of overtaking the SNP to win outright. Because of that consideration, the SNP leadership will have been far more interested in what the Norstat poll shows about party political voting intentions than in what it shows about independence. The large 15-point gap between the SNP and Reform in Holyrood constituency voting intentions will settle the nerves that had been left jangling by a small series of Scottish subsamples from Britain-wide polls, which misleadingly implied that Reform had more or less drawn level. Nevertheless, there's an ongoing frustration that the SNP hold their lead on only 33% of the vote, rather than something approaching the 54% vote for independence itself. It's well known that the biggest reason Labour were able to win a majority of Scottish seats at last year's Westminster General Election was that Yes support had become decoupled from SNP support, and that a great many people were voting Labour while still supporting independence. READ MORE: Scottish Labour councillor defects to Reform UK But Labour's support has collapsed since then, so if those "lost" independence supporters haven't returned to the SNP fold, where have they gone? The answer, according to the Norstat data tables, is that they are now dispersed between several different parties, mostly Unionist parties. Only 56% of those who would vote Yes in any independence referendum held now would also vote SNP on the Holyrood constituency ballot. Some 12% would vote Labour, 10% would vote Conservative, 9% would vote Green, 7% would vote Reform, and 5% would vote Liberal Democrat. It's hard to escape the conclusion that voters are no longer casting their votes with independence at the forefront of their minds, and that there is consequently an opportunity for the SNP to win many of those people back if they can devise a strategy that stresses the urgency of independence and convincingly ties a vote for the SNP to the prospect of Scotland actually becoming an independent country in the relatively near future.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
The UK's top 10 summer-inspired baby girl names includes two Scottish titles
Could this bout of stunning weather be used as inspiration for your baby's name? One of the biggest decisions that parents-to-be need to make is coming up with a name for their little bundle of joy. For every couple, how they reach this decision is a different process. Some people have had their baby names picked out for years, while others wait until their new boy or girl has arrived before seeing what title suits them. And when it comes to actually deciding on a name, there are a huge amount of influencing factors. Is there an important family member you wish to name your child after, or a favourite TV show character? What about after a place that's special to you as a couple, or a name that gives a nod to your heritage? Another option is to take inspiration from the world around you. And given how incredible the weather has been in recent days and weeks, it wouldn't be too much of a shock if expectant couples were considering summer-themed names for their little one. They wouldn't be alone either, as thousands of parents in Britain have named their child after something summery in recent years - including two with a very Scottish influence. The team at QR Code Generator PRO SL analysed The Office for National Statistics data for 2023, segmenting all the girls names in England and Wales by summer-related themes and terminology to identify the most popular. To make it a Britain-wide sample, the Daily Record added the Scottish figures from the same names from the National Records for Scotland publication for 2023. Coming in at first place is the first of our two Scottish names; Isla. It is officially the most popular summer-inspired girl name in Britain, with 2,611 girls born with that name in 2023. It was also the most popular girls name in Scotland that year - summer-themed or otherwise - with 274, making up more than 10 per cent of the number for the whole of Britain. The title is derived from the isle of Islay, which is particularly gorgeous in the warmer months. This was followed by Daisy with 1,702 and Aurora with 1,032. Daisy comes from the Old English 'day's eye', which refers to how the flower opens its petals as the day breaks, while Aurora means 'dawn' and comes from the Latin word 'aurore' meaning 'to become light'. Next up is the quintessential name for the sunny months; Summer, with 582 girls given this name in 2023. The top five is rounded off by Skye. Although it was actually sixth in the ONS figures, given the name comes from the stunning Scottish island, its popularity north of the border saw it shoot up one place. As well as the Hebridean island, which is often ranked among the most beautiful places in the UK, the name could be inspired by the blue skies we (sometimes) enjoy during the summer months. There were 355 girls named Skye in 2023, with 78 (22 percent) coming from Scotland - where we even had one Aurora-Skye for a bit of double-barreled summer joy. Bumped down one spot but no less worthy is Eliana, a name which was used 340 times. It has roots in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, and can mean either 'sun' or 'God has answered', depending on the interpretation. In seventh place was Honey, with 174, closely followed by Meadow, with 158. Both come from Old English words: 'hunig' and 'mædwe'. There were 106 girls named Dahlia, after the bright summer flowers, while Sierra, which comes from the Spanish word for 'mountain range' finished off the top 10 with 62. Britain's most popular summer-inspired baby girl names Isla, 2,611 Daisy, 1,702 Aurora, 1,032 Summer, 582 Skye, 355 Eliana, 340 Honey, 174 Meadow, 158 Dahlia, 106 Sierra, 62 Discussing the findings, Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO SL, said: 'Choosing a name for your baby is one of the most significant decisions a parent can make, and some even believe it can shape their child as a person. "Opting for a seasonal name can help narrow down your choices and commemorate when your baby was born. For many, summer is an especially appealing season to draw inspiration from, as it's an uplifting and social time that can also evoke memories of welcoming new life.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Edinburgh anti-disability cuts protestors surround Ian Murray MP's office
Protestors descended on the Secretary of State for Scotland's Edinburgh office to express their displeasure at Labour's latest disability benefit cuts. The demonstrators held up placards and signs which showed their discontent outside of Ian Murray MP's constituency office on Minto Street. The incident took place on the afternoon of Friday March 21. A giant banner held up by those in attendance read: 'IF YOU EXPLOIT US WE WILL SHUT YOU DOWN.' READ MORE: Huge queues at busy retail park for opening of new Edinburgh The Range store READ MORE: Edinburgh A720 crash triggers delays as police race to scene and drivers warned Leaflets at the protest also had a message for the Edinburgh MP and the Westminster government, stating: 'End the DWP's institutionalised cruelty towards claimants, and kill the new threats to reduce eligibility and lower the level of sickness and disability benefits.' Liz Kendall MP, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced earlier this week Labour would be looking to make £5bn in cuts by 2030 for those receiving disability welfare. The party argues they have a moral duty to bring down the number of those relying on disability benefits long term. The UK government's welfare bill has spiralled since the Covid pandemic with an increasing number of young people signed off sick and out of work. The Labour government defended their actions by saying they are committed to investing in getting people back into work but also in supporting those who will never be able to return due to their health. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. However, those opposed to the cuts have argued the proposals will hit the most vulnerable in society the hardest. One placard at the capital demonstration had a DWP Grim Reaper drawn on it with the wording 'CUTTING DISABILITY BENEFITS KILLS'. 'No to the two child benefit limit' and 'Scrap the benefit cap' were also visible demands made by the demonstrators. They also urged solidarity with migrants. Protestors also demanded the scrapping of the 'anti fraud' bill currently going through Westminster which would allow the DWP to spy on claimants' bank accounts. The event on Minto Street was organised by Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty and the Austerity Resistance Front, is part of the No More Growing Up Poor – End Child Poverty Britain-wide campaign initiated by Food and Solidarity, and is in solidarity with the Disabled People Against Cuts Day of Action on March 26 next week. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox One of the organisers, Esther McDonald, said' 'Today's protest is only the start. A wave of mass direct action is being planned Britain-wide. 'We will not tolerate the government robbing the poor to enrich the rich!' Ian Murray MP's office has been approached for comment.
