The SNP’s Depute Leader and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed the British Social Attitudes survey that puts support for Scotland having more powers at 72% and being an independent country at 43 per cent.
On another measurement in the report, support for independence is at 32% – up nine points on the survey conducted in 2010.
In a range of areas including the economy, standard of living and voice in the world, the clear majority of people believe things in Scotland would be better if we were independent.
This is in contrast with figures rejecting the status quo as support falls six points to 21% and support for no devolution is down five points to 5%.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"The survey shows 43% support for independence and the Scottish Parliament making all the decisions for Scotland - up 15 points on 2010.
"Becoming an independent nation is the most popular constitutional option, and demonstrates that the people of Scotland share our positive vision for the future of our country.
"The more people look at the kind of nation they want Scotland to be, the more they realise that Westminster control is holding Scotland back.
"Although we have achieved a great deal with the limited powers of the Scottish Parliament, people recognise that we can achieve so much more as an independent nation.
"We will have the economic levers to create new jobs, the responsibility for welfare to protect the vulnerable, and the powers to remove Trident from Scottish waters.
"It should be the people and parliament of Scotland taking all the policy decisions for Scotland - not a Tory-led Westminster government.
“We have the opportunity to make our nation a better place to live, for this and future generations - and this survey demonstrates that there is a clear, winning case for independence and equality for Scotland."
