Support for independence ‘has stalled’

SUPPORT for independence is languishing at the same level as when Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister almost eight years ago, a poll has found.

Scots remain 55 per cent to 45 per cent in favour of staying in the United Kingdom when undecided voters are excluded, according to a YouGov survey.

It is an identical split to when Scotland voted on independence before the current SNP leader took over from Alex Salmond in the wake of the 2014 referendum.

As Miss Sturgeon overtook her mentor’s seven-and-a-half-year stint in Bute House, polling shows just 38 per cent of people believe Scotland should be independent compared to 46 per cent who oppose breaking up the UK.

The survey of 1,115 adults carried out by YouGov for the Times also found overwhelming opposition to yet another referendum by the end of next year, with only 28 per cent in favour of Miss Sturgeon’s timetable and 59 per cent against.

Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: ‘Throughout her tenure as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has been obsessed about another divisive referendum – but the people of Scotland don’t agree with her.’