MOST Scots would like to see a second independence referendum take place within the next 10 years, according to a new poll.
Some 60 per cent of those questioned in the survey said they would like to see the vote take place within a decade, with a further 19 per cent saying they would prefer to see the country voting on Scottish independence for a second time sometime after that.
Only 20 per cent said they would never like to see another referendum on the issue again.
The question was put to 1,084 people aged 16 and over in Scotland between July 3 and 7 this year.
Last year’s indyref saw just under 85 per cent of Scots turning out to vote – a record for any UK election since 1918.
While Scots rejected independence by 55 to 45 per cent, campaigning ignited a huge political conversation across the country and raised levels of political engagement, particularly among the younger generation. It also led to the creation of this newspaper.
The Survation survey also found support for the SNP has increased since its landslide General Election victory in Scotland in May with the party on course to win 56 per cent of the constituency votes in next year’s Scottish Parliament election, up from the 45 per cent it won in the last Holyrood vote in 2011.
The SNP won 50 per cent of Scottish votes in the May election to secure an unprecedented 56 of Scotland’s 59 Westminster seats.
The Survation poll found support for Scottish independence is at 43 per cent, with 47 per cent opposed and 10 per cent undecided.
The poll also showed constituency support has increased for the Scottish Conservatives to 14 per cent and Lib Dems to seven per cent but has fallen for Labour to 20 per cent, potentially leading to the loss of all its constituency seats.
The SNP would win 71 Holyrood seats if the poll is replicated across the country next year, while the proportional representation system would see Labour hold on to 24 of its current 37 seats.
The Scottish Greens would have 12 seats from its 11 per cent regional vote and Ukip would win Scottish representation with five per cent of the regional share.
The SNP welcomed the poll and said support for independence has grown when undecided voters are removed. On the issue of a second referendum, a party spokesman said: “The timing of a future referendum is entirely a matter for the people of Scotland to decide – the people, not politicians, are in charge at every stage of the process.”
The party’s Business Convener Derek Mackay said: “This is an encouraging poll, highlighting the SNP’s extraordinary positive ratings after eight years in government – and it is also a vote of confidence in the strong start that the new team of SNP MPs has made in standing up for Scotland’s interests at Westminster.
“But we take absolutely nothing for granted, and will work hard every day between now and next year’s Holyrood election to retain the trust of people right across Scotland.”
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: ‘‘The Scottish Parliament needs a main opposition party that is constructive yet challenging. The Scottish Greens have been a clear voice on so many issues... we are ready to step up to a bigger role.”
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