New polling blow to SNP’s hopes

MOST Scots still want to stay in Britain despite a Brexit vote, a poll reveals.

In a blow to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a total of 53 per cent of those surveyed by YouGov said they want to remain a part of the UK – compared with 47 per cent who want Scotland to become independent.

The results show little difference since May, before the EU referendum, when the figures were 54 per cent and 46 per cent.

This is despite threats by SNP leader Miss Sturgeon that there could be a second Scottish referendum. Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of Scots who took part in the EU referendum voted for Remain.

Miss Sturgeon has said that because the UK as a whole backed Leave, Scotland’s voice is being ignored and a second independence referendum is ‘highly likely’.

But the poll found that more Scots (46 per cent) would prefer to remain part of the UK outside the EU than be in an independent Scotland that stayed in the EU (37 per cent).