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A quarter of the Welsh public favour independence for Wales, with support rising to a third if the Conservatives increase their majority at Westminster, according to a new opinion poll undertaken by YouGov for the campaign group YesCymru.

The figures are in marked contrast to earlier polls, which on average over the last five years have seen just 6% of voters backing independence when offered a range of constitutional options.

For the new poll people were asked to rate their support for independence between zero and 10. Of those polled, 26% favoured independence (with a rating of between six and 10), another 16% were neither in favour or against (with a five rating), and 47% (with ratings between zero and four) were against.

Those most supportive of independence were Labour voters, Plaid Cymru voters and the 18-49 age group, with Conservative and Ukip voters being least supportive.

When the same people were asked how they would feel if the Conservatives increased their majority in the House of Commons following the general election on June 8, support for independence went up to 32%.

Welsh speakers were nearly twice as likely as non-Welsh speakers to back an independent Wales with 53% of Welsh speakers doing so in the event of an increased Conservative majority against 27% of non-Welsh speakers.

When “don’t knows” are discounted, 36% would favour independence if Theresa May was returned to Downing Street with an increased majority, with 64% against.

Significantly, when those who are undecided are discounted, 47% of Labour voters would favour independence under this scenario, with 23% being strongly in favour.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Plaid Cymru voters would split 64% to 28% in favour of independence, while Conservative supporters would be against independence by 69% to 15%, in both cases with the remainder undecided.

Some 18% of Ukip supporters would back Welsh independence in the event of a bigger Tory majority, as well as 33% of Liberal Democrat supporters.

Iestyn ap Rhobert, who chairs YesCymru, said: “These results are superb for the campaign for Welsh independence. It’s really encouraging to see so much cross-party support, even though those parties are not currently making the case for freedom for our nation.

“The political parties need to let the people of Wales decide on the fate of our nation – this campaign is the people’s campaign and the momentum is growing.”

Mr ap Rhobert described the results as a huge boost for his organisation as it prepares for its annual meeting in Aberystwyth next month.

(Image: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

“Our aim is to gain independence for Wales in order to improve the way our country is governed,” he said.

“We believe in an inclusive citizenship that welcomes and celebrates the fact that everyone who chooses to make Wales their home – regardless of background – is a full citizen of the new Wales.

“We will make the case that Wales, like other small nations, are better off running their own affairs as part of a wider European and international family – without the backing of the political establishment. After all, it is only sensible that decisions about Wales should be made in Wales. We have the right to be an independent country and Westminster has no divine right to reign over us.”

Labour supporter and academic Dr Huw Williams said: “In crude terms one might say that while those in favour of independence face the issue of addressing the immediate issues of the deficit and other transitional issues, those against have a difficult task – given the last half century or so – to persuade people that the UK will favour Wales in the long term.”

* Research was undertaken between May 8 and May 12 this year with 1,000 adults providing a representative cross-section of the Welsh electorate.

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