Poll shows Independence wins

Scotland would vote for independence in a second referendum, new poll finds

The STV/Ipsos MORI poll gives the 'Yes' camp a nine-point lead

• Jon Stone, Chris Green
• @joncstone
• Wednesday 2 September 2015
• 111 comments

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Supporters of a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum in Edinburgh in September 2013. Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images

Scotland would vote for independence if a second referendum on leaving the UK was held tomorrow, according to a new poll.
The Ipsos MORI poll for the STV channel found that a would-be ‘Yes’ campaign would have a nine-point lead over the ‘No’  camp.
53 per cent of Scottish voters would vote ‘Yes’ while 44 per cent would vote ‘No’, with three per cent undecided which way they would vote, the survey suggests.
This poll marks the first lead for leading the UK since the last referendum.
Half of those surveyed said they would like to see another referendum in the next five years, while 58 per cent said they would be in favour of another vote being held within ten years.
The poll is thought to be the first to show a majority for independence among all those questioned. It was described as “pretty all-round sensational” by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.
The results of the survey may increase the pressure on Ms Sturgeon to include the promise of a second referendum in the SNP’s manifesto for next year’s elections. She has previously said that another vote would only be held if there was a “material change” in the country’s circumstances.
Derek Mackay, the party’s Business Convener, said: “We warned the Tories that support for independence would only grow if they continued to ignore Scotland’s voice – and this poll proves that, as people question Westminster’s ability to represent Scotland’s interests at all.”

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The findings come the day after the Scottish Government announced its programme for the final year of parliamentary time before the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.
Ms Sturgeon announced a number of new policies including new rent controls for areas where housing costs are rising fast.
Some polls during the Scottish Independence referendum campaign suggested that the ‘Yes’ side might triumph, though it ultimately lost by 45 per cent to 55 per cent in favour of staying in the UK.