A SENSATIONAL new YouGov poll has revealed a huge shift in favour of Scottish independence.
The research for The Times Scotland found 49% of voters in Scotland backing independence, putting Yes neck and neck with a No vote, which polled at 51%.
It marks a significant narrowing in the margin between the two sides, with the closest gap between Yes and No using a standard polling question since March 2017.
With fieldwork for the poll carried out on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, it is the first to be conducted since the First Minister fired the starting gun on indyref2.
READ MORE: First Minister: Indyref2 most likely before end of 2020
YouGov's research also predicted a pro-independence majority of 19 at Holyrood, with the SNP remaining at 63 seats but the Greens gaining five.
The Scottish Tories would go from 31 MSPs to 25, and Labour from 24 to 18.
Published on the morning of SNP conference kicking off, it also projected a 43% share of the Westminster vote in Scotland for the SNP.
That would put the party on 51 seats, with four for the LibDems, three for the Conservatives and one for Labour.
The SNP is also predicted to move from two MEPs to either three or four at the European elections, polling at 40% – which could mean the Tories losing their one European seat in Scotland.
That's ahead of Labour on 14% and The Brexit Party on 13%, both projected to have one MEP elected. They are followed by the Conservatives on 10% and the Greens on 7%.
READ MORE: Angus Robertson: Scotland in Union's poll gaffe brings good news for the SNP
On the timing of an independence referendum, 42% of those polled want a vote in the next five years, and 48% do not – with 10% saying they were unsure.
Scottish voters were also asked about their preferred currency for an independent Scotland.
Almost half (48%) said an indy Scotland should continue to use the pound in the long term.
A total of 17% said we should look to join the Euro after a Yes vote, with 14% supporting the plan to use the pound in the short term before launching a new Scottish currency, and 5% believing a new Scottish currency should be launched right away.
Despite her party's vote collapsing across the board, 42% thought Ruth Davidson was doing well and only 32% thought she was doing badly, with 26% saying they didn't know.
Nicola Sturgeon also scored a net positive rating, with 47% saying she was doing a good job and only 46% the opposite.
Tthe biggest blow was for Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard. Only 10% said he was doing well, with 39% suggesting he was not – and more than half (51%) saying they didn't know.
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