THE SNP have rejected calls for Indyref2 to be paused in the wake of the war in Ukraine - despite a poll suggesting Scots thought the party should do so.
A survey published today found a majority of voters feel discussions over when a second independence referendum will take place should stop due to the Russian invasion.
Some 59% said talks on the timing of indyref2 should stop, with 29% saying discussions should continue.
Meanwhile, the same poll found support for a No vote is at 52% and support for Yes is at 48% - when the "don't knows" are removed.
But responding to the poll this afternoon the SNP MSP Rona Mackay said there should be no suspension.
"Suggesting that Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine means the democratic process in the UK should be suspended would be grist to the Kremlin’s mill – Vladimir Putin should not be handed an effective veto over democracy in Scotland or anywhere else. You don’t defend democracy by suspending it.
“People have already decided there should be an independence referendum – this debate was had in last year’s Holyrood elections and the people elected a majority of MSPs with a mandate for an independence referendum in the parliamentary term - greater than that in 2011.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week said it was still her intention to hold a second independence referendum by the end of 2023 after the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford appeared to suggest there may be a delay because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Days later Scottish Greens' co-leader Patrick Harvie, a minister in the Scottish Government, said there would be announcement in Holyrood "before long" on a bill to hold Indyref2.
Savanta ComRes polled 1,008 Scottish adults between March 10 and 16.
The voting intention figures represent a slight increase for No compared to the polling company's previous research in January.
Among SNP voters, 43% said discussions on when a second independence referendum should take place should stop while 47% said they should continue.
On the timing of a second vote, 34% of Scots agree with the First Minister that it should be held within the next two years, while 15% feel it should take place within five years.
Respondents were also asked whether discussions on the timing of a referendum should stop due to the cost of living crisis.
Some 52% said they should stop, but 38% said they should continue.
On constituency voting preference, the SNP is on 46%, Labour is on 24%, the Conservatives are at 20% and the Liberal Democrats are on 7%.
For regional list voting, the SNP is on 34%, Labour is on 22%, the Conservatives are at 20%, the Greens on 13%, the Lib Dems on 8% and Alba on 2%.
But Pamela Nash, of the campaign group Scotland in Union, said: "The SNP and Greens are tone deaf as they continue with their campaign to leave the UK.
"The majority of people in Scotland do not want another divisive referendum, especially amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
"With so many challenges facing people, it's clear that we need politicians focused on pulling communities together and pooling and sharing resources and talent - rather than politicians trying to pull people apart."
Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said: "The SNP and Scottish Greens should take heed of this poll and stop their ill-timed and unwanted push for another divisive independence referendum.
"Scottish public opinion is clear that the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine is the overriding issue facing the country and the world - yet many nationalists are still so obsessed with their own self-serving agenda that they can't or won't see it.
"On top of Russia's deplorable actions internationally, we also have the huge domestic challenges of rebuilding Scotland's economy after the pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis."
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