SCOTLAND would vote for independence if a snap referendum was held today, a new poll carried out in the wake of the UK's Brexit decision has suggested.

The Survation poll points to a shift in public opinion, with 53.7 per cent saying they would vote for independence, against 46.3 per cent in favour of staying in the UK.

Including "don't knows", the figures are 47.8 per cent for Yes with 41.3 per cent backing the No side.

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Scottish voters rejected independence by 55 per cent to 45 per cent in the September 2014 referendum.

But the latest poll was carried out after the UK voted on Thursday to leave the European Union by a margin of 52 per cent to 48 per cent. In stark contrast, Scotland opted to be part of the EU, by 62 per cent to 38 per cent.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the situation means a second vote on Scottish independence is now "highly likely" and has warned she would consider asking Holyrood to block the UK's departure from Europe if MSPs are required to give formal backing for Brexit.

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The latest poll results were based on the responses of 1,002 adults questioned over the weekend.

Carried out for the Daily Record, the poll comes a day after a Sunday Post survey found that 59 per cent of Scots say the would now back independence.