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The findings that some 53 per cent of Scottish voters would rather stay with the UK has seriously undermined the SNP and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The humiliating stats came to light just hours after SNP’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson said Scotland was “truly on the brink of independence”.

GETTY More than half of Scots want to remain in the UK

Sturgeon has claimed Brexit would cause a surge in Scots opting to leave Britain after suggesting 62 per cent of Scottish people chose to remain in the Brussels bloc. She added that the country’s voice is being ignored and a second independence referendum is now “highly likely”. But according to the YouGov poll, 47 per cent of Scots support the move – a similar number before the Brexit vote on June 23.

GETTY Two years ago Scotland voted to stay as part of Britain

In the short-term at least, the data suggests the vote to leave the EU has not boosted the cause of Scottish independence Joe Twyman

Scotland opted to remain part of the UK in 2014 with 55 per cent supporting remain and 45 per cent backing independence. Joe Twyman, YouGov’s Head of Political and Social Research, said: “Ultimately it is unclear what the medium and long-term impact of Brexit on people’s livelihoods will be and therefore it is also unclear on where Scottish public opinion will go. “But in the short-term at least, the data suggests the vote to leave the EU has not boosted the cause of Scottish independence.”

Sturgeon's top moments Fri, December 9, 2016 Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in pictures. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 33 Nicola Sturgeon visits Glaxo Smith Kline.