LITTLE more than a third of Scots want another independence referendum before 2021, according to a new poll.

Despite the SNP regularly recording support of well over 50 per cent for May's Holyrood election, the YouGov study found that just 36 per cent want another vote on the party's central aim in the lifetime of the next parliament.

Meanwhile, 46 per cent would oppose another referendum, with almost half of those surveyed saying it would be bad for business and the economy.

The Scotland in Union campaign group, which commissioned the research, called on party leaders to rule out a second vote and focus on domestic issues such as health and education instead.

Nicola Sturgeon is not expected to seek a cast-iron mandate for another referendum in her party's manifesto for the upcoming election, although she has refused to rule out calling a repeat of the 2014 vote if there is a significant change in circumstances such as Scotland being dragged out of the EU against its will.

The research by Scotland in Union, a grassroots campaign organisation seeking to make a positive case for the country's continued place in the UK, also shows that only 10 per cent of voters believe another referendum should be a "priority". Nearly half of Scots, 47 per cent, believe that the country would have been worse off economically had it voted Yes with just 23 per cent believing it would be better off, the research found.

Under the timetable set out by the SNP ahead of the vote, Scotland would have broken away from Britain in weeks had the Yes campaign triumphed, with March 24, 2016 earmarked as 'independence day'.

Alastair Cameron, Director of Scotland in Union, said: "It’s becoming increasing clear that Scotland wants to move on from the constitutional question which has dominated Scottish politics for the last few years.

"The majority of Scots do not support another referendum in the next Scottish Parliament and we are calling on all of the political leaders to categorically rule this out. The current Scottish Government has hinted that it will leave the option open with certain triggers and we believe this uncertainty would be bad for Scotland."

An SNP spokesman said: "Scotland's referendum was a positive, engaging experience which boosted the country's global profile - which is why in 2014 Scotland was the most successful part of the UK outside London at attracting inward investment."