A new independence poll has found the majority of Scots are against breaking up the union.
The survey conducted by Techne UK asked 501 people between Wednesday June 29 and Thursday June, 30 from across the country the question: 'Should Scotland be an independent country?'
When 'don't know' answers are included the poll found that 39 per cent of people would vote 'Yes' in any future referendum, while 46 per cent said they would opt for 'No'.
READ MORE: What every indyref2 poll has said over the last year
With don't knows excluded the results are close to the 2014 independence referendum with 46 per cent saying 'Yes' and 54 per cent saying 'No'
It comes a day after a Scotsman poll conducted by Savanta ComRes found that 53 per cent of people said a referendum should not take place next year with 40 per cent said it should, and the remainder were undecided.
Asked about their voting intentions, when don't knows were removed, 49 per cent said they would vote Yes, while 51 per cent said they would vote No.
Earlier this week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans for a second vote on Scotland's future which she hopes will take place on October 19, 2023.
The UK Government is refusing to grant consent for such a ballot to be held, Sturgeon is asking UK Supreme Court judges to rule if Holyrood can hold a referendum without the backing of Westminster.
Reacting to the Techne UK poll its chief executive Michela Morizzo said: "On first glance, these numbers will be encouraging for those who do not want the break-up of the United Kingdom, but those in favour of Scotland being an independent country will also find encouragement in this poll.
"Even on Nicola Sturgeon’s proposed timetable, we are 14 months away from any vote and the 15% who say they ‘don’t know’ will be the ones who decide the result.
"At this stage before the 2014 referendum, ‘no’ was much further ahead in the polls so the First Minister will believe the argument for independence can be won.
"Equally though, those opposed will think any lead after Brexit and a particularly unpopular Prime Minister in Scotland is a strong base to build from for a referendum they do not want and which may not happen anytime soon."
While chief executive of Scotland in Union Pamela Nash said: "This poll may have a smaller sample than other polls, but it is part of the ongoing trend which confirms that most people in Scotland want to remain part of the UK.
"And two separate polls this week have made it clear beyond any doubt that the overwhelming majority of people don’t want another referendum next year.
"Nicola Sturgeon is acting against the will of the people of Scotland, and it’s time for her to focus on what really matters – fixing the mess the nationalists have made of our NHS, closing the education attainment gap, and creating jobs."
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