Fresh blow for embattled Nicola Sturgeon as ANOTHER poll shows her Scots independence drive is stalling with 51% wanting to stay in the UK 

• A series of polls have found majority of Scots support staying in United Kingdom
• Major setback for Nicola Sturgeon as she pushes for a re-run of 2014 referendum
• Large proportion do not believe she has been honest in row with Alex Salmond 

Nicola Sturgeon suffered a fresh blow today as another poll found a majority of Scots oppose her independence drive.

Some 51 per cent wanted to stay in the United Kingdom in the research by YouGov excluding those who were not sure – the reverse of the result it had in November. 

Half were against the First Minister’s drive to hold a referendum this year, an increase of six points, while the proportion in favour had dropped seven points to 36 per cent. 

It is the latest in a line of surveys to identify a drop in backing for the SNP’s separatist agenda, after Ms Sturgeon was embroiled in an extraordinary public war with Alex Salmond.

The findings will cause more alarm among the nationalists, and are a boost for Boris Johnson’s efforts to hold the union together.  

Some 51 per cent want to stay in the United Kingdom in the research by YouGov excluding those who were not sure – the reverse of the result it had in November

Ms Sturgeon’s deputy John Swinney survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood yesterday over criticism for failing to release full legal advice to the Scottish government in the Salmond case 

The SNP insists that if it wins Holyrood elections in May it will have a mandate for a re-run of the 2014 referendum, even though both sides agreed at the time it was a ‘once in a generation’ decision. 

Mr Johnson has said he will not give permission for the vote, leaving the nationalists threatening to hold a ‘wildcat’ version that would not have any legal standing. 

The separatists appeared to have opened up a significant lead in the polls by the end of 2020. 

However, there has been a significant shift in recent weeks, with Ms Sturgeon facing attacks from former friend Alex Salmond that she broke the ministerial code over handling of allegations against him.

Her deputy John Swinney survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood yesterday over criticism for failing to release full legal advice to the Scottish government in the Salmond case. 

In the latest storm to hit the SNP, its chief whip Patrick Grady stood down from his role yesterday following reports of sexual harassment allegations.  

The UK government has also been credited with the strong vaccine rollout. 

Ms Sturgeon’s nerves showed through last week as she tried to play down a renewed SNP push for a Scottish independence referendum this year. 

The party’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford reiterated the goal even though support for breaking up the union. 

But Ms Sturgeon refused to repeat the timetable when challenged about it at a daily Covid briefing.   

At the weekend a Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times gave a 51-49 per cent split, and suggested just a third believe she has been entirely honest about in the spat with Mr Salmond. 

The Panelbase research found just one in three Scottish voters believe Ms Sturgeon has been entirely honest about the Salmond affair.

A third of voters wanted the First Minister to resign – with the figure rising to 61 per cent if she is found to have broken the ministerial code by an independent review. 

:: YouGov interviewed 1,100 Scots between March 4-8. 

A Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times gave a 51-49 per cent split, and suggested just a third believe Nicola Sturgeon has been entirely honest about in the spat with Alex Salmond

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