EXCLUSIVE

Tom Gordon

Paul Hutcheon

AN overwhelming majority of Scottish voters say the UK should only leave the European Union if all four home nations support an exit.

A new poll found 60% of people said withdrawal from the EU should require four Out votes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, rather than a simple majority across the UK.

The Survation poll, commissioned by the SNP, also found a majority of voters from all parties wanted to set a high bar to an EU exit.

The poll found 60% of people agreed somewhat or strongly that all four nations should vote the same way before an exit, compared to 14% who disagreed somewhat or strongly, 14% who neither agreed nor disagreed and 11% who didn't know.

Support for 'four nation consent' was highest among SNP voters, 70% of whom agreed with it.

However 59% of Labour, 55% of Conservative and 50% of LibDem supporters were also in favour.

There was also majority support across all age groups, all socio-economic classes, and among both Yes and No voters in the referendum.

Pushed by Ukip and Eurosceptics within his own party, David Cameron has promised an in/out referendum no later than 2017 if the Tories are re-elected with a majority in May, although he says he would campaign to remain in the EU.

There are fears a vote to leave could lead to a constitutional crisis for the UK if it is based on a large number of Out votes in England, but Scotland or another home nation votes No.

Nicola Sturgeon last year said it would be "democratically indefensible" for Scotland to be dragged out of the EU against its will, and called for a Scotland veto on an exit.

Welcoming the poll, she said that if there was an in/out referendum after the general election, SNP MPs would try to amend the legislation to ensure four nation consent before any exit.

"This proposal has been described as 'worth considering' by the Labour First Minister of Wales - and with David Cameron upping the stakes with his plan to bring forward his in/out referendum, it is now more urgent than ever that people and parties across the UK who support our place in Europe back it."

Survation polled 1011 people in Scotland aged 16 and over online from February 12-17.