Almost a third of Scots are more likely to back the break-up of Britain if Theresa May returns to Downing Street, according to a poll.
The YouGov poll for The Times found 31 per cent of voters would be more in favour of backing independence if Mrs May led a re-elected Tory government after tomorrow’s election.
This includes 15 per cent of No voters from the 2014 referendum, when 55 per cent rejected independence. If these switched to Yes they would give Nicola Sturgeon the votes she needs to split from the UK in a future referendum.
The poll found Labour voters were the most likely to move from the unionist side. That was echoed last night by a revelation that Kezia Dugdale wanted Labour to change its approach to independence and back a fresh referendum.
Nicola Sturgeon revealed during a debate on STV that the Scottish Labour leader had told her privately that the Brexit vote had made her consider her approach to independence.
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In what could prove embarrassing for Ms Dugdale, who is fighting for the unionist vote, Ms Sturgeon suggested that she was close to switching sides.
Turning to Ms Dugdale, Ms Sturgeon said: “You used to agree with me on that. You and I spoke the day after the EU referendum and you told me then that you thought the change occasioned by Brexit meant Labour should stop opposing a referendum. Now you changed your mind but why should everyone else in Scotland be denied?”
Ms Dugdale did not deny the claim, saying: “I have always said I would do anything you did to build our relationship with Europe as long as it didn’t come at the expense of our relationship with the United Kingdom.”
Ms Sturgeon added: “She is entitled to change her mind, but what no politician is entitled to do is to deny people in Scotland a choice over our own future.”