A NEW poll which shows support for independence is at its highest level in more than four years shows Scots know that “a better future as an independent nation is possible”, according to the SNP.
Scots back independence by 54%, excluding undecided voters, according to a survey by pollsters at Norstat.
The figure is the highest level recorded in more than four years, the polling for The Sunday Times shows.
It also found that the Scottish Parliament would have a pro-independence majority after the next Holyrood elections in a post-Budget bounce for the SNP.
They would command a majority, if they had the backing of the Greens, of three seats in Holyrood, seat projections based on the figures showed.
The SNP hailed the findings as a boost for the independence movement.
Emma Harper (above), SNP MSP for South Scotland, said: “Increasing support for independence is a sign that the people of Scotland know that Westminster, no matter who is in government, is failing them – a better future as an independent nation is possible.”
It comes after the Scottish Budget last week, which saw the SNP pledge to abolish the two-child benefit cap and a calamitous start to Keir Starmer’s premiership.
The SNP have also pledged to introduce a replacement for the universal Winter Fuel Payment scheme, scrapped by Labour.
Harper added: “After extensively listening to the public the SNP Government has produced a budget that benefits everyone in Scotland and delivers on the people’s priorities - parliament must now back it.
“The SNP will continue to set out a better alternative, demonstrating how independence can allow us to properly tackle the challenges facing people in Scotland and build a better, fairer, more prosperous society for everyone.”
Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens said it was "no wonder that so many are feeling so disillusioned and disappointed by Westminster" and that Scots were "recognising the transformative impact that independence could have".
The SNP ignored the Greens' pre-Budget "red line" that spending on independence be maintained, apparently in favour of gaining LibDem support for their tax and spend plans.
There is no mention of independence in the 132-page Budget document published last week.
Harvie added: "For years we've had the Labour Party telling us that Scotland didn't need independence, and that all we had to do was wait until Keir Starmer was in Downing Street.
"Well we've seen what that looks like, and it means the same disastrous brexit/" target="_self">Brexit as the Tories, the continuation of the cruel two-child cap and plunging pensioners into poverty during a long cold winter.
"Independence is about having the ability to make our own choices and to make different choices."
Independence would give Scots the chance to "rejoin Europe, start to reverse the damage done over 14 years of Tory rule and make the green investment that is needed to build a fairer, greener and renewable-powered future", Harvie added.
The poll showed that the SNP were on course to pick up 37% of the constituency vote and 32% in the regional vote, which would give them 59 seats, according to polling expert John Curtice.
Labour would get 20 seats, the Tories 19, Reform 13, the LibDems 11 and the Greens seven.
Such a result would be certain to thwart Anas Sarwar’s ambitions to become first minister.
