Support for leaving the EU grows in Scotland

Nick Clegg MP, who will campaign in Scotland today - credit PA

Support for leaving the EU has grown in Scotland in recent months, according to a new poll.

The Ipsos MORI poll, carried out for STV, puts Leave at 32 per cent, up three points since April, while support for Remain has dropped 13 points to 53 per cent in the same period.

Among those most likely to vote however, Remain performs more strongly at 58 per cent.

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With the polls much tighter across the UK as a whole, the findings appear to back claims by Nicola Sturgeon and others that Scotland could yet play a decisive role in the outcome of the referendum.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will suggest as much today at an event in Edinburgh alongside Scottish leader Willie Rennie and Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.

“Scotland has a proud internationalist tradition. Just as I believe that the UK should be a leader in the EU, I think Scotland has an opportunity to lead the referendum debate within the UK over the final week of the campaign.”

Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who will take part in a Leave rally in Glasgow today, accused the SNP of “trying to scare Scottish voters”.

She is expected to say a vote to Remain would “deny” Scotland the opportunity to get more powers.

“Scotland has a bright future outside the European Union. A Scottish Parliament with more powers, a Scottish budget with more funding, all within a UK which has control over our borders,” she will say.

Meanwhile responding to the poll SNP In Europe Campaign Director Humza Yousaf said he would take nothing for granted.

“A Remain vote next Thursday is Scotland’s opportunity to send a strong, clear message that we reject the right-wing Tory agenda in favour of working with our neighbours in Europe to protect and advance the social protections we hold dear,” he said.

Forty seven per cent of those polled said they would back another independence referendum in the event of a Brexit vote, compared to 45 per cent who wouldn’t want one.