A majority of Scots think the UK won't exist in its current form in 10 years time, a new poll has suggested.
A survey by pollsters Ipsos asked people living across Britain to rate the country's economic recovery from covid - and the results show widespread pessimism.
Scots remain more likely than those in England and Wales to say the UK will not exist in its current form for much longer.
As many as 61 per cent of Scots say the UK will not exist in its current form in 10 years’ time, compared with 50 per cent across the UK as a whole.
The poll also found 46 per cent of Scots think it will not exist in five years’ time, compared with 33 per cent across the UK as a whole.
Across the UK, just 15 per cent think the general economic condition of the UK will improve in the next 12 months, while 67 per cent say it will get worse.
Expectations are even more pessimistic in Scotland, where 73 per cent expect the UK’s economy to get worse in the next year.
Just nine per cent think Scotland’s economy will improve while 68 per cent believe that it will get worse.
Emily Gray, managing director of Ipsos Scotland, said: "Scots are pessimistic about the country’s economic prospects, which shows the public are well aware of the challenges facing the Scottish Government in delivering on its recently published National Strategy for Economic Transformation.
"Given wider pressures on the cost of living and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it comes as no surprise that people are feeling uncertain about the short-term future of the economy and are divided over whether Scotland’s economic prospects are likely to be any different from the UK’s as a whole.
"Meanwhile, although three in five Scots expect the demise of the UK within 10 years, those in England and Wales would still prefer Scotland to vote No in any second referendum.”
Nicola Sturgeon has committed to holding an IndyRef2 by the end of next year but faces opposition from the UK Government.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
