New poll shows Scotland supports independence by 52% to 48%

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomes Boris Johnson outside Bute House in Edinburgh ahead of their meeting. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA Wire. - Credit: PA

A new poll has found a majority of Scots are now in favour of independence following Boris Johnson’s arrival at Number 10.

The Lord Ashcroft poll puts support for independence at 46% and 43% against – figures which Scotland’s first minister described as “phenomenal”.

When those who said they did not know how they would vote, or said they would not vote, were removed, support for independence was at 52% and 48% were against.

The online poll questioned 1,019 adults in Scotland between July 30 and August 2.

It found 47% felt there should be a second independence referendum within the next two years, with 45% against the proposal.

It follows Boris Johnson announcing that he would become a “minister for the union” to attempt to hold the United Kingdom together.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This is a phenomenal poll for the independence movement – showing that more and more people think it’s time that Scotland took our own decisions and shaped our own future as a fair, prosperous, outward-looking nation.”

Sturgeon said the case for independence was growing stronger by the day as Scotland is “dragged towards a no-deal Brexit”.

The polling reflects Boris Johnson’s arrival at Downing Street – promoting a no-deal Brexit against the wishes of Scottish people.

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “We didn’t vote for Brexit, we didn’t vote for a Tory government and I’m certain that given the choice we wouldn’t have voted for Boris Johnson either – yet we are being dragged along with the ever increasing Brexit catastrophe.

“It’s no wonder that a majority of Scots now recognise the need for us to make an exit from Boris Johnson’s Brexit Britain.

“We already have a mandate to hold an independence referendum, yet the Tory Government has threatened to block a request.

“This would be an affront to democracy, and is wholly untenable in the face of public support for a vote.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Taking Scotland back to another divisive referendum on independence is not the way forward and the Scottish Conservatives will oppose it every step of the way.

“It is time for us all to focus on what matters – growing our economy, and sorting out the mess the SNP is making of our education system and the NHS.”