INDEPENDENCE support may have dropped below 40 per cent, shock polling suggests.

A bumper survey for a pro-SNP think-tank found only 30 per cent back a split compared with 52 per cent wanting to stay in the UK.

1 Indy support may have dropped below 40 per cent Credit: Alamy Live News

The findings suggest it is 37/63 in favour of the Union when “don’t knows” are taken out.

Scotland in Union chief Pamela Nash said: “This poll has demonstrated the huge strength of support for remaining in the UK.

“It is time for Nicola Sturgeon to drop her reckless threat of an unwanted referendum and focus on the day job of fixing our schools, hospitals and trains.”

Polling for ex-Nats No2 Angus Robertson’s Progress Scotland also showed four in ten Scots want IndyRef2 in the next five years, while 37 per cent don’t want it at all.

Nine per cent said there should be a poll in the next five to ten years, and a further nine per cent said they want a re-run of 2014, but not for at least ten years.

But polling guru Sir John Curtice urged caution as the results showed more than 76 per cent of Yes and No voters last time have not changed their minds, pointing to an outcome little different from the previous 45/55 split.

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SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said tonight: “This poll shows a growing majority agree there should be another referendum.

“It also shows that most people think it would benefit our economy, and that Scotland would better represent itself in relations with the EU than Westminster.”

chris.musson@the-sun.co.uk

Thousands of Scots wave flags and march for independence in Edinburgh

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