Not having a further referendum on Scottish independence was the most popular choice in a new poll questioning when a further vote should be held.

The Survation poll for Scotland in Union found the most popular choice for respondents on the possible timing of a further ballot was that there should not be one, with 34% backing that option.

Nicola Sturgeon’s plan of holding a new independence referendum within two years was the second most popular choice, with 21% of respondents in favour.

Nicola Sturgeon independence speech
Nicola Sturgeon has revealed plans for a new referendum (Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament/PA)

A total of 17% want another referendum in the future but not within the next decade, while 10% want one within the next two to five years, 9% want one within the next five to 10 years and 8% did not know.

The survey of 1,012 adults in Scotland, carried out online between April 18 and 23, also found more were in favour of Scotland remaining in the UK than leaving.

Asked if a referendum was held on the question “should Scotland remain in the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?” 61% said they would vote remain and 39% said they would vote leave.

More respondents (43%) said leaving the UK would be worse for Scotland’s economy than Brexit, while thought it would be better (30%).

A further 14% said it would be no better or worse and 13% said they did not know.

Pamela Nash, Scotland in Union chief executive, said: “This bombshell poll proves that Nicola Sturgeon is refusing to listen to the people of Scotland.

“In a hammer blow for the SNP, only a fifth of voters want a divisive second independence referendum within two years and over half say there shouldn’t be one for at least a decade.

“It’s no surprise that support for leaving the UK has fallen to below 40%, with many former Yes voters changing their minds.

“They have seen how difficult the Brexit process has been and know that we are stronger together.

“The people of Scotland want Nicola Sturgeon to get back to her day job and focus on fixing our hospitals, schools and the economy, and to drop her obsession with breaking up the UK.”

SNP spring conference
Keith Brown said the Scotland in Union poll had done the independence cause ‘a huge favour’ (Jane Barlow/PA)

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “This poll has backfired in spectacular style for Scotland in Union – who are clearly running scared of giving people in Scotland the choice over their future.

“We’re 19 points clear of the Tories as we stand up for Scotland against the damage that their Brexit plans will inflict on jobs and our NHS.

“They’ve slumped into a dismal third place behind a beleaguered Labour party.

“This poll shows that almost two-thirds of people back another referendum and that a majority think Scotland would be better off or no worse off with independence.

“That’s a great vote of confidence in the benefits of taking our future into our own hands.

“Despite their best efforts in employing a skewed question on support for independence conducted before the First Minister’s announcement this week, Scotland in Union have done us a huge favour.”

The poll results gave the SNP a 19-point lead on the Conservatives when respondents were questioned on their Westminster voting intentions.

More than one in four (41%) said SNP, followed by Labour on 24%, Conservatives on 22%, the Liberal Democrats on 8% and 5% for other parties.

Asked what the top three most important issues for the Scottish Government are to prioritise, the results were 71% for the NHS and social care, 38% for the cost of living, 37% for the economy and 35% for education.

Crime and policing was at 22%, housing and welfare both 21%, environment and climate change 19%, constitutional affairs and independence 9%, defence 6% and transport 5%.