INDEPENDENCE SUPPORT RISEN SINCE COALITION FORMED, SAYS POLL

By Andy Philip, Political Reporter, Press Association Scotland

Support for Scottish independence has grown since the Conservatives and
Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government at Westminster,
according to a poll today.

Backing for separation increased from 28% to 34% since the general
election in May, the YouGov survey in the Scotland on Sunday newspaper
showed.

At the same time, opposition to independence dropped from 58% to 50%,
while the remaining 16% were undecided.

The SNP also released details of the YouGov poll, held just after the
party's conference in Aviemore.

The survey said 41% of people would choose SNP leader Alex Salmond as
First Minister over Labour leader Iain Gray, who scored 24%.

And on the day Finance Secretary John Swinney called for more borrowing
powers, the survey found 56% think more economic powers would help
Scotland recover from recession.

There was also majority support for maintaining the council tax freeze
(59%), a "living wage" proposed by the SNP and Labour (69%), and
scrapping of prescription charges (54%).

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The SNP is setting the
policy direction for 2011 as we respond clearly to the priorities of the
people of Scotland.

"On council tax, prescription charges and the powers to grow our
economy, it is the SNP that is on the side of the people of Scotland and
Labour that are increasingly out of touch."

Mr Gray told the newspaper: "The SNP is trying to make the election into
something of a personality contest - that's because they've got nothing
else left.

"They have a track record of broken promises and there is little support
for independence."

Details released last week from the poll of 1,405 people showed Labour
is still on course for victory at next year's Holyrood election, but the
gap has narrowed.

Popular support for the largest opposition party at Holyrood grew by one
point to 40% for Scottish Parliament constituency voting intentions and
held steady at 36% in the regional vote.

Support for the SNP increased by five points in both votes compared with
the last poll at the start of September.

The change moves the SNP from 29% to 34% in the constituency vote and
from 26% to 31% in the regional vote.

end