A quarter of Scots would support holding a second independence referendum in the next year, while 45% say it should not take place for the next few years, an opinion poll has found.

The Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times found 25% supported holding a referendum in the next 12 months.

Some 30% said they would support a referendum in the next two to five years while 45% agreed with the statement “there should not be another Scottish independence referendum in the next few years”.

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A total of 1,013 Scottish adults were polled online between March 3 and 5.

The poll also found support for a Yes vote stood at 46%, with No on 47%.

When “don’t knows” are excluded, this put the weighted support for both Yes and No at 50% each.

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has suggested an independence vote could take place “as early as late 2021”, though other figures in the SNP have refused to be drawn on this comment.

Earlier this week, two other opinion polls suggested support for a No vote had pulled ahead of Yes.

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Support for independence was ahead in many opinion polls throughout the latter part of 2020.

The Panelbase/Sunday Times poll also indicated a comfortable lead for the SNP in the upcoming Scottish Parliament election.

The SNP stood at 47% for the constituency vote, with the Conservatives on 23%, Labour on 20%, the Liberal Democrats on 7% and the Greens on 2%.

For the regional list vote, the SNP were on 38%, the Conservatives on 20%, Labour on 17% and both the Lib Dems and Greens on 6%.