MOST SNP voters back an 'unauthorised' indyref2 if the UK government refuses to grant a Section 30 order, according to a new poll.
Last December, after her party won 48 of Scotland’s 59 constituencies at the general election, Nicola Sturgeon wrote to Boris Johnson asking for the power to hold a legally watertight referendum to be devolved to Holyrood .
Number 10 said no.
Just last month, Downing Street reiterated their opposition, with the Prime Minister's official spokesman saying they would "continue to uphold the decisive verdict" from 2014's referendum.
In a survey for The Times, YouGov found that 68% of SNP supporters thought that, in the event Boris Johnson refuses to shift his position, even if the pro-independence parties win a majority at next year's Holyrood election, the Scottish government “should try to hold a vote without those powers”.
However, just 38% of all voters would back such a move.
The pollster also found that 53% of people — excluding “don’t knows” — would now vote Yes in a referendum.
It's the fourth poll in a row to show majority support for independence, and was a two point increase on YouGov’s last poll, in January.
There is ongoing debate in the SNP about what to do if the Prime Minister refuses to agree to a second independence vote.
The First Minister has previously suggested she could consider legal action if Number 10 refuses to consent.
Senior figures, including MP Angus MacNeil, and councillor Chris McEleny, have suggested a Plan B, which would see next year's Holyrood vote as a proxy plebiscite on independence.
However, there is little support for this among the party's leadership. There are fears that anything other than a legally watertight vote taking place will mean any referendum result is ignored by the international community.
Taking to Twitter this morning, Scottish cabinet minister, Shirley Anne Sommerville took a pop at supporters of a proxy vote. Sharing the poll results, she tweeted: "I can see why some folk keep saying we need a Plan B cause this Plan A isn’t working ... oh hang on, wait a minute, yes it is - to record levels."
Responding, MacNeil tweeted: "Plan A wasn't sold to conference as a plan for good opinion polling, but as a plan with 'momentum' for indyref2. That was 10months ago. 'Momentum' one UK Gov letter stopped!!"
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