Have people in Scotland voted for an independence referendum?

In the 2011 Holyrood election a majority of MSPs were elected on a manifesto pledge of holding an independence referendum. Every opposition Westminster party accepted that result and conceded that a referendum had to be held based on that election result.

In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election a greater majority of MSPs were elected on a manifesto pledge of holding an independence referendum. This was on a greater percentage of the vote than in 2011 with a far higher turnout, and after several elections where the SNP had won the vast majority of seats.

Other referendums have been held in the UK on the basis of the proposing party having a smaller percentage vote than the SNP won in 2016 – in some cases the party never even first in terms of the popular vote or seats.

If the Westminster parties believe that the 2011 election result meant people in Scotland had voted for an independence referendum then it is only logical and fair that the 2016 election result means more people in Scotland have voted for a referendum.