Support for Scottish independence higher than remaining in the UK for the FOURTH poll in a row

Support for independence among Scottish voters has been shown to be higher than support for remaining in the UK for the fourth opinion poll in a row.

According to a new YouGov survey, 47 per cent of Scottish voters said they would choose ‘Yes’ if asked if Scotland should be an independent country.

This is a rise of four percentage points since a previous poll in October.

By comparison, in the latest survey, only 42 per cent said they thought Scotland should remain part of the UK.

This is a fall of three percentage points since the October poll.

In this month’s poll, 8 per cent of voters were undecided, said they would not vote or did not state their preference.

But, when these voters were excluded, support for independence totalled 53 per cent compared to 47 per cent who wanted to preserve the Union.

The YouGov survey for The Times is the fourth consecutive poll to show support for independence higher than support for remaining part of the UK. 

It follows polls by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, Ipsos and Find Out Now.

All four surveys have come in the wake of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s defeat in the Supreme Court.

According to a new YouGov survey, 47 per cent of Scottish voters said they would choose ‘Yes’ if asked if Scotland should be an independent country

When undecided voters were excluded, support for independence totalled 53 per cent compared to 47 per cent who wanted to preserve the Union

Last month’s Supreme Court ruling dealt a severe blow to Nicola Sturgeon’s bid to break up the UK

On 23 November, the UK’s most senior judges ruled that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for another independence referendum without permission from Westminster.

The ruling dealt a severe blow to Ms Sturgeon’s bid to break up the UK, although the SNP leader has since insisted that the next general election will now be a ‘de facto’ referendum on Scottish independence.

More than half (52 per cent) said they did not think pro-independence parties securing a majority of the general election vote in Scotland constituted a mandate for independence.

This was also the view of 23 per cent of SNP supporters.

It compared to 39 per cent who said a majority for independence-supporting parties at the general election would be a mandate for breaking up the UK.

Nine per cent of voters were unsure.

Polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said this month’s survey represented the joint highest pro-independence result recorded by YouGov.

It equalled a level last seen in August 2020, when Ms Sturgeon was holding regular press conferences on the Covid crisis.

Sir John warned Prime Minister Rishi Sunak he might need to do more than continuing to refuse permission for another independence referendum.

He said: ‘On this evidence, just saying “no” to another ballot does not look like a viable long-term strategy for maintaining public support for the Union.’

YouGov interviewed 1,090 people aged 16 and older between December 6 and 9.