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PM's 'hard Brexit' speech sees support for Scottish independence rise

From left, apprentice's Leanne Brown, Adam Clark, Sparrows executive director, engineering Ewen Kerr and Aidrian Gillespie, Scottish enterprise and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to Sparrows Training Centre, Tyrebagger, Aberdeen, as she announced a new £5 million fund to help Scottish-based firms benefit from the decommissioning of North Sea infrastructure. The first minister was making the visit as a poll revealed a rise in support in Scotland for independence. Former first minister Alex Salmond said yesterday that if Article 50 is triggered without Scotland's views being taken into the UK's negotiating stance, then it would be a matter for Ms Sturgeon to decide whether to call a second vote on independence PICTURE: Kami Thomson/Press and Journal/PA
From left, apprentice's Leanne Brown, Adam Clark, Sparrows executive director, engineering Ewen Kerr and Aidrian Gillespie, Scottish enterprise and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to Sparrows Training Centre, Tyrebagger, Aberdeen, as she From left, apprentice's Leanne Brown, Adam Clark, Sparrows executive director, engineering Ewen Kerr and Aidrian Gillespie, Scottish enterprise and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to Sparrows Training Centre, Tyrebagger, Aberdeen, as she announced a new £5 million fund to help Scottish-based firms benefit from the decommissioning of North Sea infrastructure. The first minister was making the visit as a poll revealed a rise in support in Scotland for independence. Former first minister Alex Salmond said yesterday that if Article 50 is triggered without Scotland's views being taken into the UK's negotiating stance, then it would be a matter for Ms Sturgeon to decide whether to call a second vote on independence PICTURE: Kami Thomson/Press and Journal/PA

SUPPORT for Scottish independence has increased following the prime minister's "hard Brexit" speech, a new poll has revealed.

The BMG survey for the Herald shows 49 per cent of Scots back independence while 51 per cent want to stay in the UK, when the "don't knows" are excluded.

When the 10 per cent undecided are included, 43 per cent would vote Yes and 45 per cent No.

The gap has narrowed since a similar poll last month which showed 45.5 per cent were Yes supporters and 54.5 per cent backed No, almost the same result as the 2014 referendum of 45 per cent Yes to 55 per cent No.

Since last month's poll, Theresa May confirmed her plans to take the UK out of the single market in her Brexit speech.

However, the latest survey shows most Scots do not want another independence referendum before the UK leaves the EU, with 48 per cent against, 38 per cent for and 13 per cent undecided – making 56 per cent against and 44 per cent for when the "don't knows" are removed.

The poll results were revealed before MPs voted by 494 to 122 to give the prime minister the power to start Britain's divorce talks with the European Union, and a day after MSPs rejected the triggering of Article 50 in a symbolic vote at Holyrood by 90 votes to 43.

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Michael Turner, research director at BMG, said the poll paints a "mixed picture" with Brexit "undoubtedly having an effect on support for the principle of independence and on what terms".

He said: "It could easily be the case that since Theresa May's January speech, a small proportion of those holding out for a softer form of Brexit, with Scotland more involved in the deal-making process, have come to the conclusion that for them, any deal is unlikely to better an independent Scotland, and have reverted back to support for independence.

"These results just go to show how critical the Brexit negotiations will be for the future constitutional arrangements of Scotland and the UK. It will be interesting to see if this support is sustained, or simply a knee-jerk reaction to May's 'hard Brexit' speech.

"Interestingly, support for independence appears to be up significantly among Remainers, up six points to 51 per cent since December.

"Although these results suggest that opposition to independence is by no means an insurmountable task for Nicola Sturgeon's SNP, they do imply that she is a fair way off from her 'red-lines' of clear and consistent support."

SNP business convener Derek Mackay said: "As Scotland is driven ever closer towards a hard Brexit cliff-edge by a right-wing Tory Government acting against our interests, this poll shows a virtual dead heat on the question of independence.

"If the Tories continue with their blind pursuit of a hard Brexit, ignoring the clear view of an overwhelming majority of people in Scotland, then more and more people will see independence as the option delivering certainty and stability."

BMG Research interviewed 1,067 adults living in Scotland between January 26 and 31.

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond tweeted the poll, adding "Game on..."

Scottish Labour's Westminster spokesman Ian Murray called on the SNP to rule out another independence referendum.

He said: "Rather than working constructively, the SNP is instead fixated on a second independence referendum. But as the latest opinion poll shows, people in Scotland are very clear that they don't want another referendum."

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said the poll shows no "meaningful shift" in support for independence and a "great reluctance among Scottish people to thrash this out again".

Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said: "Considering there's been no official Yes campaign since 2014 and a relatively sustained campaign against, it's remarkable that support for independence has held steady.

"However, this poll, up three points since the last BMG poll, highlights the impact of Westminster's refusal to seriously consider Scotland's vote to stay in the EU or any compromise proposals which have been presented to them."

Speaking on his LBC phone-in programme, Mr Salmond said there had been 18 polls since the EU referendum, with 17 showing support for independence at higher than 45 per cent.

He repeated the view that another referendum on Scotland leaving the UK could be held next year.

"There is a lead time of roughly 16 to 18 months," he said. "I have always said I thought the autumn of next year was my favourite time.

"That was my guess, that's no more than an educated guess."

Mr Salmond added that if Article 50 is triggered without Scotland's views being taken into the UK's negotiating stance, then it would be a matter for Nicola Sturgeon to decide whether to call a second vote on independence.

"I am quite certain she has been doing some hard thinking about that," he said.