Scottish independence given new hope as poll shows shocking amount of support

A new poll has given a major boost to the Scottish independence movement, after it recorded the highest level of support in three years. The poll by Find Out Now reported an 11 point lead for the Yes movement by 52% to 41% opposed.

When removing the 7% ‘don’t knows’, the lead for independence grows to 56% to 44% opposed. If a referendum were held tomorrow, every region of Scotland would back independence, except those in south on the English border. The highest support is recorded in Glasgow and the Highlands.

There’s also a much higher level of support among the youngest, aged 16 to 29, who support breaking away from the UK by 67% to 22%.

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, pinned the growth in support for independence to Keir Starmer’s failure to deliver in Downing Street.

Ms Slater said: “It is no wonder that support for independence is growing.”

“For years, Labour told us that what we really needed was a change in government in Westminster, but those words are looking increasingly hollow.

“They promised change but are offering more of the same cruel and toxic policies of the Tories.

“With the rise of the far right in England, things could be about to get a lot worse.

“If Scotland had the powers of a normal independent country we could do far more for our environment and to tackle the vast inequality that has been made far worse by years of cuts by Westminster.

“We could finally undo the damage of a Brexit that was delivered by Nigel Farage and the Tories and re-join Europe.

“Next year Scotland will go to the ballot box. Independence can and must be a big theme of the election.”

When the country last went to polls in 2014, support for independence stood at just 45%, while the no side won the day with 55%.

While the poll might worry unionists, two previous polls by YouGov in March found a 9% and 11% lead for ‘no’.

In September last year Nicola Sturgeon said she believes she will still see Scotland become an independent country.

Keir Starmer’s first year in Downing Street has also seen support for Labour tank ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections.

Despite winning a majority of Westminster seats last June, it finds that hopes of seeing Labour resume power in Edinburgh have been dashed.

Meanwhile Reform is also surging in Scotland, recording a recent record high of 17% in a country Nigel Farage often struggled to win support in when leading UKIP.