MICHAEL Gove’s “Trumpian” rejection of rising support for Scottish independence is only boosting the cause, according to the SNP.

The Cabinet Office minister was peppered with questions from SNP MPs asking him about why opinion polls suggest Scots favour leaving ahead of remaining in the Union.

It comes as a 17th poll put support for independence ahead of support for the Union, this time on 58%.

It is the second time in two months that the record-high figure has been recorded, this time in a Savanta ComRes poll carried out for The Scotsman newspaper.

READ MORE: Scottish independence: Four things we learned from the Savanta ComRes poll

Responding to SNP Cabinet Office spokesman Pete Wishart’s questions about why independence is the “settled will” of the Scottish people, Gove replied: “Sadly I fear his reliance on opinion polls is no substitute for his aversion to hard arguments. Why won’t he engage with the facts?”

Gove highlighted Westminster’s support for NHS funding in Scotland and the UK Government-led Covid-19 vaccination programme, with Wishart countering: “Let me try to give him a few reasons and see if he agrees with any of these – the disastrous Brexit Scotland didn’t vote for, the attacks on our democracy, the undermining of our parliament, the Prime Minister, him?

“Maybe they’re some sort of reasons as to why we’re now in the lead. But the main one, and see if he agrees with this, is the way he arrogantly Trumpian says no to a majority in a democracy.”

Wishart asked if saying no to independence would drive support for the issue down or up, with Gove noting the Scottish Parliament elections take place next year and he claimed voters will ask questions about the “decline in educational achievement” in Scotland's schools. 

READ MORE: Scottish independence: Savanta ComRes poll shows Yes support at record high

The Tory minister also insisted voters will back the Scottish Tories at the expense of the SNP despite this morning’s Savanta ComRes poll showing the opposite.

The survey has the SNP on track to gain a decisive majority in the Parliament, while the Scottish Tories are set to lose eight seats.

It also found the public trust the SNP significantly more than they trust the Tories on key issues like schools, the economy and health.