Survey reveals record support for split with UK

Prime Minister insists not enough Scots want re-run Kirk accused of intervening with ‘nationalist opinions’

Theresa May said Scots do not want another independence referendum as a major survey revealed record support for independence.

The Prime Minister sought to counter Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for a fresh ballot on a Scottish breakaway by insisting the 2014 vote was a “once in a generation” event.

In another day of drama, a Conservative MSP accused the Church of Scotland of expressing “nationalist opinions” in its intervention that Westminster must not stand in the way of Indyref2.

The First Minister’s spokesman accused the Spanish foreign minister, who said Scotland must join a queue to join the EU, of peddling a “complete and utter fallacy”.

A survey of Scottish social attitudes revealed that 46% are now in favour of independence, the highest level since the ScotCen research began in 1999.

Meanwhile, the pound fell to an eight-week low as confidence was rattled by the double whammy of the move towards an independence referendum and the Brexit Bill passing through the UK Parliament.

Support for Scottish independence is at its highest level, according to the country’s leading social research institute.

The latest findings from ScotCen’s Scottish Social Attitudes survey also found, however, that relying on a pro-EU narrative could damage the case for leaving the UK, with a third of Yes voters against being part of the Brussels bloc.

It comes two days after demands for a second independence vote.

The survey, which has been taken since 1999, asked people to choose between independence, devolution and not having any kind of Scottish Parliament at all, with 46% backing a break from the rest of Britain.

This is the highest level of support since the research started and double the level registered by ScotCen in 2012 (23%).

Bruce Crawford, the SNP MSP, said: “This analysis proves that the people should have the opportunity to make that choice and not, as our opponents have howled, that Scotland’s voice should be silenced.”

Adam Tomkins, the Conservative MSP, said the report lays bare the divisions in Scotland and “another referendum will only make this worse”.