OPINION polls have shown a surge in support for independence as Nicola Sturgeon prepared the ground for a new campaign to take Scotland out of the UK.

The First Minister toured television studios yesterday making the case for a second referendum just 21 months after the country rejected independence.

The First Minister has promised to explore other options to maintain Scotland's relationship with the EU but admitted she did not know whether they could succeed.

Looking ahead to another independence referendum, she said it "would not just be a rerun of the 2014 one because the context has completely changed".

She added: "The UK that we voted to remain within in 2014 doesn’t exist anymore and of course what many people saw as the stability of the UK versus the unknown of independence in 2014 is completely different."

The First Minister - who has said a fresh poll is "highly likely" was buoyed by two polls showing majority in favour of independence.

A Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times put support on 52 per cent, with 48 per cent against, when undecideds were excluded.

An online poll by ScotPulse - which is not a member of the British Polling Council - for the Sunday Post showed 59 per cent would vote Yes to independence referendum, with 32 per cent backing No and the rest unsure.

In another hopeful sign for the First Minister, Scottish Labour, which campaigned strongly for a No vote in 2014, hinted a possible future change of heart.

Leader Kezia Dugdale, who on Friday said the party would not drop its opposition to a second referendum "any time soon," opened the door to a possible future reversal.

Following a meeting of the party's ruling Scottish Executive Committee at the weekend, she said "we will consider all options" in the wake of Brexit.

Sources refused to rule out backing independence at a later date but only when the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU were clear and a detailed case for leaving the UK had emerged.

The party is also waiting to gauge the mood of members, many of whom were deeply dismayed by the vote to leave the EU.

Ms Sturgeon also received a boost when a senior German politician, who said the EU would welcome an independent Scotland.

Gunther Krichbaum, of the CDU, told Welt am Sonntag: "The EU will still have 28 member because I'm counting on a new independence referendum in Scotland which will be successful.

"We should quickly reply to an application from an EU friendly country."

Ms Sturgeon continued to use conciliatory tone she has adopted since Friday's momentous result in a bid to reach out to Scots who voted No in 2014.

Addressing some of the issues likely to dominate a second independence campaign, she told Sky News she was "not considering joining the euro".

She claimed Scotland had a stronger moral case for keeping the pound than in 2014, when Alex Salmond's plan to share sterling in a currency union was rejected by Chancellor George Osborne.

She also said she did not want to see a border erected between Scotland and England "under any circumstances".

It is unclear what arrangements would have to be made if a Scotland in the EU became independent of a UK that was outside the bloc.

But discussing the situation in Ireland, where a possible border has dominated the debate since Friday, Ms Sturgeon conceded: "I think people in Ireland should rightly be very concerned about the prospect of a border between North and South and I hope there is a way that can be found to avoid some of these consequences."

Also preparing for a second referendum campaign, Alex Salmond said being in the EU would bring an economic boom to Scotland.

He said: "Make no mistake, there will be an exodus to our country of key companies and talented people from London."

Leading voices from the 2014 Yes campaign took to social media in the hope of silencing some of the abuse that tarnished its reputation.

Blair Jenkins, the leader of Yes Scotland, said No voters were "reviewing their position" and "need time and space".

Business leaders warned against a rush to a second independence referendum.

Jim McColl, the billionaire boss of Clyde Blowers Capital, said: "The Scottish Government said previously they would only have a second independence referendum when they were sure the people of Scotland wanted independence and would win.

"So I would say the Scottish Government needs to be careful."

He said the Brexit vote created new opportunities for Scots firms.