Nicola Sturgeon has hailed the publication of a poll on independence which found the Yes campaign has a narrow lead.
A survey by Panelbase found 48 per cent of Scots supported independence while 47 per cent were against - and just five per cent said they were undecided.
But the same poll also found voters in Scotland are split over whether a second independence referendum should take place in 2023.
READ MORE : Scottish independence: 8 referendum questions answered
It showed that 44 per cent of Scots voiced an opposition to a ballot taking place next year while 43 per cent said they were in favour.
One in 10 of respondents said they neither supported nor opposed holding a vote, and a further three per cent said they did not know.
The Panelbase poll asked 1,010 voters for their views last week ahead of the First Minister announcing on Tuesday that she intends to stage a referendum on October 19, 2023.
Reacting to the latest survey, Sturgeon tweeted: "Very encouraging Panelbase poll - Yes ahead, surge in support for choice in 2023, and the SNP within touching distance of majority of votes in GE should it become de facto indyref (which we hope isn’t necessary).
"Lots to do though. Bring on the debate on why now is time for Indy."
The revelation of the proposed date came after the Scottish Government released its draft independence referendum Bill in March 2021, where it stated a desire to hold the vote in the first half of this parliamentary term.
The UK Government has refused to grant its consent for an independence referendum to be held, citing the 2014 independence referendum as being a “once in a generation” event.
But Sturgeon has said she will turn to the UK’s Supreme Court to establish the legality of holding a vote without the backing of Westminster.
Should that also be rejected, the Scottish Government has declared the next Westminster general election will be a “de facto referendum” on Scotland’s future within the union.
If the referendum does not go ahead next year and the SNP instead looks towards the next Westminster election – set to be held in 2024 – the Panelbase survey suggests that Sturgeon’s party could gain 47 per cent of the vote.
The SNP’s depute leader, Keith Brown, told the Sunday Times that the poll showed support for the Yes campaign has grown “to a narrow lead”.
“With support for independence growing to a narrow lead and only a minority opposed to a referendum next year, this poll underlines that it is people in Scotland who have the democratic right to determine our own future — and not Boris Johnson,” he told the newspaper.
But Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron told The Sunday Times: “The SNP government needs to focus on the key challenges facing the country, the global cost-of-living crisis and soaring NHS waiting times, instead of splitting the population with a reckless push to break up the UK.”
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