Majority of Scots favour separation, says poll

A majority of Scots favour independence, according to a new poll.

The ICM survey for Thursday's Scotsman newspaper also found a surge in support for the SNP just months away from next May's Scottish parliamentary elections.

Next year also sees the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union and nationalists are hoping to exploit unhappiness with the Westminster government and Edinburgh executive.

The poll showed support for Scottish independence running at 51 per cent, the first time since 1998, the year before devolution, that support for separation has attained a majority.

That compared with 39 per cent who actively wish to remain part of the UK and 10 per cent who say they don't know which option they would choose.

Scottish voters will have two votes - one for a first-past-the-post constituency MSP and a second for the party they favour on a proportional representation list system.

On the first the poll shows a resurgent SNP enjoying 32 per cent support to Labour's 30 per cent. On the second both parties are level on 28 per cent.

But if the results were replicated in May's election the ruling Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition would retain a majority in the Holyrood parliament.

Labour would take 41 seats with the SNP on 37, the Lib Dems 25, the Conservatives 17, the Greens five and 'others' four.