Poll suggests 65% want Independence referendum

Two out of three Scots want a referendum on Scottish Independence by 2011, according to a new poll.

The YouGov poll for the The Times also puts SNP support at Holyrood on 40 per cent of the constituency vote and 33 per cent of the regional vote against Labour's 32 per cent and 30 per cent.

On those figures, the SNP would increase its seats by two and Labour would lose two seats. SNP depute leader, Nicola Sturgeon MSP said:

“We are delighted with these poll figures. The strong SNP lead – which has increased since the election – shows that the honeymoon continues nearly a year into government, on the back of solid policy delivery. The poll shows the SNP winning more votes and more seats since last May.

“The poll also shows that support for independence is on the increase, and is being boosted by the SNP’s record in office. And there is overwhelming support for a referendum in the lifetime of this parliament, which is an enormous boost for the SNP’s policy. The other parties are appealing to barely a fifth of the people, and are deeply split on the issue – they will find it impossible to justify refusing to support the right of the people to decide Scotland’s future in a democratic referendum.

“And for a Westminster election, the SNP are within touching distance of Labour for the first time in a generation – with the ability to win a barrow load of seats in what could be a tight parliamentary situation. The SNP could well hold the balance of power at Westminster after the General Election, which would mean that the areas where the UK government is currently saying No to Scotland would quickly change to Yes.”

The YouGov poll was conducted from 2-4 April, sample 1,070

 1) Scottish Parliament constituency vote (change since 2007 in brackets)

SNP: 40% (+7)

Lab: 32% (-)

Con: 12% (-5)

Lib: 13% (-3)

Oth: 4%

2) Scottish Parliament list vote (change since 2007 in brackets)

SNP: 33% (+2)

Lab: 30% (+1)

Con: 13% (-1)

Lib: 12% (+1)

Oth: 13%

3) Holyrood seats projection:

SNP: 49 (+2)

Lab: 44 (-2)

Con: 15 (-2)

Lib: 15 (-1)

Oth: 6 (+3)

4) Westminster General Election (change since 2005 in brackets)

SNP: 31% (+13)

Lab: 35% (-5)

Con: 17% (+1)

Lib: 12% (-11)

Oth: 4%

5) Support for a referendum on Scottish independence:

Immediate referendum: 11%

Within the next year: 28%

In 2010: 26%

Should not be referendum: 21%

None of these: 4%

Don't know: 11%

6) Support or oppose country becoming a country independent of the rest of the UK

Support: 34%

Oppose: 50%

DK: 15%

[The Sunday Times/mruk CELLO poll interviewed 1,028 adults across Scotland between 29 February and 9 March and put support for independence at 23% - although two-third said they would be prepared to support it in certain circumstances.]

7) The SNP have been in power 11 months. Do achievements make you more or less likely to vote for independence:

Much more likely: 17%

A little more: 15%

No difference: 35%

A little less: 8%

Much less: 19%

Don't know: 7%