Support for independence in Scotland has fallen, a new poll suggests.

A total of 56 per cent of respondents to a YouGov survey said they would vote No in a future independence referendum, with 44 per cent voting Yes.

The figures, which remove people who responded 'don't know', that they would not vote, or skipped the question, show a marginal move to the No side from the 2014 referendum result of 55 per cent No and 45 per cent Yes.

A total of 56 per cent of respondents to a YouGov survey said they would vote No in a future independence referendum, with 44 per cent voting Yes. pictured: SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon on This Morning

When the YouGov poll was last carried out for the Times in September, 49 per cent of respondents said they would vote in favour of independence while 51 per cent would vote against.

Despite the dip in support for Scotland leaving the UK, the same poll indicated that the SNP is on course to add 11 MPs at next week's General Election.

It put the SNP on 44 per cent, up one point on polling in August, while the Tories were on 28 per cent (plus 8), the Liberal Democrats were on 12 (no change) and the Greens on 1 per cent (minus 3).

According to projections by polling expert Sir John Curtice, this would see the number of SNP MPs increase from 35 to 46.

The survey also found that the number of people who believe there should be a Scottish independence referendum within the next five years has fallen.

A total of 42 per cent of respondents were in favour, down from 45 per cent in August, with 48 per cent against - up from 44 per cent in August.

When the YouGov poll was last carried out for the Times in September, 49 per cent of respondents said they would vote in favour of independence while 51 per cent would vote against. Pictured: Ms Sturgeon today

More people thought Boris Johnson remaining Prime Minister next week, rather than Jeremy Corbyn taking the role, would make independence more likely within the next decade.

More than a third (37 per cent) of respondents said Mr Johnson staying in post would make Indyref2 more likely in this timeframe, with a quarter (25 per cent) saying it would be less likely.

For the Labour leader, 32 per cent said him becoming prime minister would make Scottish independence more likely within the next 10 years, with 16 per cent believing the opposite.

The poll surveyed 1,002 Scottish adults from December 3 to December 6.