INDEPENDENCE is now supported by the majority of under 60s, according to a new poll.

The Yougov poll, conducted for the Sunday Post, found that 59 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds, and 53 per cent of of 25- to 59-year-olds supported Scottish independence.

However, support for independence remains low amongst the over-60s, with only 32 per cent in favour.

Overall, the Yougov poll of 1,000 people, carried out last week, found support for independence now at 47 per cent.

Polling expert John Curtice, believes that there’s still a lot of ground to be made up.

The Strathclyde University professor said: “The nationalist movement probably needs to have 60 per cent support in the polls before it could be sure of winning.”

Yougov also asked their respondents if the SNP promising an independence referendum in the party’s 2016 Scottish Parliament manifesto would make them more or less likely to back the party. 15 per cent said they would not vote SNP, compared to 11 per cent who said they would.

Curtice warned that not offering a referendum could be risky for the SNP. “The support and enthusiasm the SNP now enjoy might dissipate if an independence vote is taken off the table” he said.

The poll also asked Scots how they would vote in an EU referendum, 68 per cent said they would vote to remain in the EU. A UK-wide poll for the Sunday Times had 44 per cent of respondents wishing to remain in the EU, with 36 per cent voting to leave.

Stephen Gethins MP, the SNP’s Group Spokesperson and Shadow Minister for Europe, welcomed the result: “These figures underline the importance of the ‘double majority’ democratic safeguard for Scotland that Nicola Sturgeon has proposed – that for the UK to be able to leave the European Union, each constituent part – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – would have to vote to exit. Otherwise, Scotland could be dragged out against our will.

“The group of 56 SNP MPs will move an amendment to the EU Referendum Bill on this basis, and seek support across political parties and across the UK.

“In terms of another independence referendum, the people of Scotland are in charge – they would have to vote for a party manifesto in a Scottish Parliament election seeking a mandate for a second referendum before one could take place.”