Nicola Sturgeon was last night described as “anti-democratic” for continuing to push for independence after admitting she expected another referendum while she was first minister.
The constitutional question dominated the televised final leaders’ debate ahead of Thursday’s Holyrood election — in the way it has dominated much of the campaign.
The SNP leader is expected to win back the keys to Bute House, securing herself five years as first minister.
She told a Sunday newspaper that the prospect of a second vote on the issue during her time in charge of the country was now “more likely than not”.
Her political opponents are attempting to hold her to her promise before the 2014 vote that it would be a once in a generation event.
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At the BBC debate, the leaders were asked about whether there should be another vote if there was public demand. Ms Sturgeon replied: “I believe in something, I have convictions, I have principles, I will continue to try to persuade people. But whether I succeed or not will be down to the strength of the arguments I put forward and ultimately down to the wishes of the Scottish people.
“We are all democrats. What on earth is it about the democratic will that some people on this platform seem to find so frightening.”
“Now as soon as it’s over and they don’t get the result they want, they want to do it all over again
But Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said that areas such as education, mental health and climate change had been neglected in the past five years while focus was on the constitution. “I want to focus on making Scotland the best country in the world again,” he said. “We can’t achieve that by having a groundhog day debate about independence.
“We had one of the biggest democratic experiences in our lifetime. They celebrated it constantly. But now as soon as it’s over and they don’t get the result they want, they want to do it all over again.
“Did they not get the message? We want to stay in the UK, respect the result. I would even go as far as saying you are anti-democratic.”
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He was rewarded with cheers from the audience.
Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Green party co-convener, who supports independence, said: “Respecting the result means respecting the fact that a substantial number of Scottish voters did vote for independence. Respecting the result doesn’t mean we all have to crawl away and shut up about it.
“The opportunity to continue to debate this is still there.”
The Scottish Labour manifesto published by Kezia Dugdale last week opposed another referendum in the course of this parliament. Last night, Ms Dugdale said she did not believe Ms Sturgeon’s own manifesto gave her a mandate to call one.
She said: “I believed the first minister when she said this was a once in a generation, once in a lifetime, opportunity. Not even 20 months have passed since we came together to vote in the referendum. So many people just want to move on from that referendum.”
“Respecting the result doesn’t mean we all have to crawl away and shut up about it
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The SNP’s manifesto says the Scottish parliament should have the right to hold another referendum if there is “clear and sustained evidence” of majority support for independence, or if there is a “significant and material” change in circumstances, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against its will.
She was asked by the Sunday Herald newspaper whether she thought there would be a second referendum within her premiership.
She replied: “If you’re asking me, do I think it’s more likely than not? Yes.”
The debate in Hopetoun House, South Queensferry, took place as a new poll confirmed that the SNP was expected to win another majority — but also that Scottish Labour was likely to come second.
The Panelbase research for The Sunday Times and Heart FM suggested that the gap between Labour and the Scottish Conservatives was widening.
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Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, has made being an effective opposition central to her bid for votes. Failing to come second would be a huge personal blow — but Ms Dugdale would find coming third far worse.
The survey puts Labour six points clear of the Conservatives in the constituency vote, at 23 per cent versus 17 per cent. The SNP retains a clear lead on 49 per cent, with support for the Liberal Democrats on 6 per cent and the Greens on 3 per cent.
In the regional vote, backing for the SNP has slipped three points to 44 per cent, with Labour on 22 per cent ahead of the Tories on 19 per cent. The Liberal Democrats are polling at 4 per cent, Ukip 3 per cent, the Greens 6 per cent and Rise 2 per cent.
John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told The Sunday Times: “While support for the Conservatives has largely held steady, it looks as though Labour may have been able to capture from the SNP some of those who were thinking of voting for Nicola Sturgeon but who are opposed to independence.”
Panelbase had interviewed 1,074 adults in Scotland between April 23 and 28.