PUBLIC satisfaction with Nicola Sturgeon has fallen to below that of Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, according to a new poll.

The First Minister has fallen by 12 percentage points from an Ipsos MORI survey in April, standing at 54 per cent.

Satisfaction with Ms Davidson, who led the Conservatives to success and is the leader of the second largest party at Holyrood, has risen by eight percentage points to 55 per cent.

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The latest Ipsos MORI poll of 1,000 people between September 5 and 11 on how they would vote if an independence referendum was held immediately.

Among those who expressed a voting preference and who would be very likely or certain to vote, 48 per backed independence, while 52 per cent supported remaining in the UK.

Support for a second independence referendum in the next two years stood at 41 per cent, while 54 per cent opposed such a move. There were clear divisions on this issue, with 84 per of Yes voters supporting another vote and 92 per cent of No voters opposing it.

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The poll found that 15 per cent of those who gave a view on independence had changed their minds on how they would vote in a future referendum as a result of the Brexit vote, while 79 per cent said they had not.

The remainder did not know.

Among undecided voters not giving a view on independence – who made up 6.5 per cent of respondents – 36 per cent backed staying in the United Kingdom prior to the EU referendum but have now said they are undecided on independence, while 14 per cent had gone from pro-independence to being undecided.

A further 43 per cent said the Brexit vote had made no difference and seven said they did not know.

Ipsos MORI Scotland director Mark Diffley said: “The summer was dominated by the fallout from the Brexit vote and the impact it may have on support for independence.

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“Despite the UK-wide vote contradicting the wishes of the majority in Scotland, Brexit has not resulted in a surge in support for independence.

“At 48 per cent among committed voters, it remains entirely possible that a second referendum campaign could be won by supporters of independence.”