SNP support is “well below” the 50 per cent it desires if it hopes to make the next general election a de facto referendum, new polling has indicated.

While still outpolling other parties, the Survation survey published by advisory firm True North put support for the SNP at 43 per cent at a Westminster election.

Labour was second on 29 per cent, followed by the Conservatives on 18 and the Lib Dems on seven.

Meanwhile, support for Scottish independence has fallen since December, where it spiked following the Supreme Court’s ruling that Holyrood could not legislation for a second referendum.

According to this poll, the No side is back ahead – with 54 per cent backing the Union and 46 per cent saying they would vote for independence.

Polling expert Professor John Curtice said: “The poll suggests that, at 43 per cent, support for the SNP would be well below the 50 per cent mark that Nicola Sturgeon would like to surpass at the next general election – though it also suggests that, at present, fewer than half would vote for pro-independence parties in a Holyrood ballot too.”

Want to see more SNP fails? – Health Matters