Support for Scottish independence stands at 52 per cent among decided voters, according to a new poll carried out by Survation for the Diffley Partnership.
The latest polling puts Yes ahead when those who answered Don’t Know are excluded, providing another snapshot of public opinion on Scotland’s constitutional future.
The findings have prompted renewed calls for Scotland to be given another independence referendum, with the SNP arguing that the question should ultimately be decided by voters.
The poll arrives amid a continuing political dispute over whether another referendum should take place and who should have the authority to determine when Scotland votes on its constitutional future.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said independence is “off limits”, while the SNP maintains that election results and continued support for independence demonstrate that the issue cannot simply be removed from political debate.
SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown MSP said:
“The people of Scotland elected a record number of pro-independence MSPs in May and now we have yet another poll showing that people are fed up with the failed Westminster system which does not work for Scotland.
“It is not just Scots who are rejecting broken, Brexit Britain with pro-independence First Ministers in every corner of these islands.
“Still, the Labour Party stands in the way of democracy with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham declaring that Scottish independence is “off limits” and his prospective Scottish branch office managers quick to roll in behind him but Westminster cannot ignore the will of the people of Scotland forever.
“Just last week a report showed that countries with similar population sizes and economic resources, such as Norway and Ireland, are thriving with far higher standards of living than the UK, there is no reason Scotland cannot aspire to join these nations.
“Make no mistake about it, Scotland is on the path to independence and with that fresh start we will secure that future and build a wealthier country at the heart of Europe”.
Polling on independence has moved in both directions over the years, with individual surveys providing a snapshot rather than a prediction of what would happen in another referendum.
The significance of the latest result is therefore not that Scotland’s constitutional argument has suddenly been settled, but precisely the opposite.
More than a decade after the 2014 referendum, the question of independence remains firmly embedded in Scottish politics and continues to divide public opinion closely.
With Yes reaching 52 per cent among decided voters in this latest survey, the constitutional debate shows little sign of disappearing.
