Scots are split right down the middle on independence, according to an exclusive Courier poll which gives an election day boost to Nicola Sturgeon.
The research by Survation has found 46% of Scots support going it alone, with 47.3% opposed.
If you remove undecideds from the figures it means 49.3% of Scots would now vote Yes – up from 44.7% in the historic ballot in September 2014.
Ms Sturgeon, the First Minister, insists she intends to hold another vote next year – although the UK Government say they will block it.
The poll, which saw more than 1000 Scots surveyed by phone on Tuesday and Wednesday, found just 50.7% of Scots would now vote No.
For further coverage of our exclusive poll, and all the election day build-up, see Thursday’s Courier
The numbers mean that majority support for independence is within the margin of error.
Independence has been a prominent feature of the election campaign in Scotland.
The Tories have urged voters to back them to avoid a second independence referendum, while Sturgeon has insisted Scotland must be given a choice over its future.
Speaking on Wednesday, the SNP leader said: “I want a referendum next year.
“My message at the start of this campaign was vote SNP to keep Boris Johnson out of office, to escape Brexit and to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.
“My message at the end of this campaign is to vote SNP to keep Boris Johnson out of office, to escape Brexit and to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.
“And Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands is – in my view – allowing a choice on independence next year.”
The SNP leader has repeatedly said Scotland should have the powers to decide to hold a re-run of the 2014 vote, but Boris Johnson has promised to never allow another referendum while he is Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbyn has said it would not happen “in the first years of a Labour government”.
