NEW polling has revealed most UK voters back plans for a Scottish independence referendum to go ahead next year.
Excluding undecideds, the poll carried out by Omnisis for the Byline Times found 55% of people believed the Scottish Government should be allowed to go ahead with indyref2 next year, with 45% opposed.
Those in favour held a significant lead when undecideds were included, with 42% backing a second poll and just 35% against.
SNP MSP Rona Mackay said the poll highlighted “how out of step Westminster political leaders are from the majority of voters”.
The Supreme Court last month blocked the Scottish Government’s plans to hold indyref2 in 2023 without Westminster’s permission.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon subsequently confirmed the SNP would fight the next election as a de-facto referendum.
Bearsden MSP Mackay claimed Westminster party leaders were engaged in a “Trump-like denial of Scotland’s right to self-determination”.
She said: “This poll demonstrates how out of step Westminster political leaders are from the majority of voters across Great Britain when it comes to respecting democracy.
“It surely shames the Westminster party leaders that the public of Great Britain overwhelmingly reject their continued Trump-like denial of Scotland’s right to self-determination.
“While the SNP respects and accepts the judgment of the Supreme Court, it did raise profound questions about the basis and future of the UK and confirms that the notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership of nations is no longer a reality - if indeed it ever was.”
And the SNP have highlighted a joint statement issued by the then-leaders of Scotland’s Unionist parties, who called for more power to be devolved to the Scottish Government in the lead up to the 2014 referendum.
The statement, signed by Ruth Davidson, Johann Lamont and Willie Rennie, read: “Power lies with the Scottish people and we believe it is for the Scottish people to decide how we are governed.”
Mackay argued Unionist parties had “abandoned” their commitment to that principle in standing in opposition to a second vote.
She added: “In 2014 the Westminster parties even promised that power lay with the Scottish people to decide this matter, but they have fully abandoned that promise in light of the Supreme Court ruling and aren’t even proposing to rectify it.
“This poll sends a clear message that Westminster should not block Scotland’s right to choose.
“The Westminster Government must now listen to what people are saying and sit down with the Scottish Government to agree a process that allows the Scottish people to decide.
“Anything less is entirely unsustainable because democracy must, and will, prevail.”
Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens' external affairs spokesman, said: "We already knew from a poll this week that the people of Scotland want the power to decide their own future.
"That shouldn’t have surprised anyone - it’s exactly what they voted for at last year's Scottish Parliament election. But now we know that most people across the UK support this very basic democratic right.
“If the unionist parties continue to stand in the way despite being roundly rejected at the ballot box, they’re going to have to concede that they simply don't believe the people of Scotland have any right to decide our own future.
"But they can’t hide from democracy forever. The people will have their say."
