Scottish people would vote for independence if Boris Johnson became prime minister.

The front-runner to become Conservative Party leader would trigger Scots to vote to leave the UK, according to a new poll.

Johnson is a divisive figure in Scotland, with a net approval rating of minus 37%.

When Johnson was the editor of The Spectator magazine, he published a poem joking about the "extermination" of the "verminous" Scottish people.

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LONDON — The Scottish people would vote for independence from the United Kingdom if Boris Johnson became prime minister, according to a new poll.

The current majority against independence in Scotland would be reversed if the former foreign secretary were to enter Downing Street, the new Panelbase poll of Scottish voters suggested.

Asked whether they supported leaving the UK, a narrow majority of 51% of the respondents said they opposed independence.

However, when asked how they would vote if Johnson became prime minister, independence gained a 6-point lead of 53% over 47%.

Panelbase/Sunday Times poll of Scottish voters

The poll found that Johnson is a divisive figure in Scotland, with a net approval rating of minus 37%, significantly below any of the other previous candidates for Conservative Party leader.

Business Insider revealed earlier this month that when Johnson was the editor of The Spectator magazine, he published a poem joking about the "extermination" of the "verminous" Scottish people.

Johnson also wrote a column suggesting that Scottish people should be prevented from becoming prime minister.

Business Insider's story was quoted by Scottish National Party Westminster leader Ian Blackford at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

Blackford asked Theresa May about the poem and accused Johnson of being a "racist."

Watch May being questioned about Johnson's views on Scotland:

A separate poll this weekend found that Johnson's support in the public has declined in recent days, following revelations about his private life.

The Survation poll for The Mail on Sunday found that voters now believe Johnson's rival for Conservative leader Jeremy Hunt would make the best prime minister by 32% to 29%.

Read more: Boris Johnson published a poem joking about the 'extermination' of the 'verminous' Scottish people

The Scottish Nationalist Party welcomed today's poll findings.

"This is a stunning poll that shows independence is within touching distance," SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said.

"Even without the nightmare scenario of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, a referendum would be too close to call — but if he wins, as expected, backing for independence is set to surge," he added.