A NEW poll commissioned by Unionists has found that the majority of Scots want a second independence referendum.

The research by Survation, commissioned by Scotland In Union, also found that the SNP are on course to win 51 of Scotland's 59 seats, and a vote share close to that of Scottish Labour and the Tories combined.

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said the poll had "backfired in spectacular style" for the Unionist group.

The backing for a second independence referendum came after the First Minister fired the starting gun for one on Wednesday, as a bid to protect the country against Brexit.

Ministers are to introduce a bill to allow Holyrood to "protect and progress the option for an independence referendum" within the lifetime of this Holyrood parliament – meaning there could be a vote in the next two years.

The polling also found that 61% of people wanted to stay in the Union, and 39% leave – but the options were worded as "Remain" and "Leave", as in the Brexit vote where Scotland backed Remain, rather than the families "Yes" and "No" options.

Of the 57% who backed a second indyref2, the most popular option was the First Minister's timescale of holding it within the next two years – backed by 21% of respondents.

A total of 17% wanted another vote, but not for at least 10 years; 9% wanted indyref2 in five to 10 years; and 10% said it should be held in two to five years.

With 8% undecided, only 34% thought there should never be another referendum – well below the 57% open to another vote.

When it came to the Westminster election, the poll put the SNP on 41%. Labour were well behind in second place at 24%, with the Tories trailing them with 22% and the LibDems on 8%.

The Electoral Calculus website predicts this as resulting in 51 MPs for the SNP at Westminster – a gain of 16 – with only three Scottish Tories and one MP for Labour.

Commenting on the poll, SNP depute 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.

"The SNP meets for our Spring Conference with the wind in our sails, while the Unionist parties continue to languish in the political doldrums.

“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.”

Speaking ahead of the party's conference this weekend, he said the European elections would be a chance to send a vital message over Brexit.

Brown added: “This conference will put us on campaign footing, with a vote for the SNP a vote to make clear that Scotland says no to Brexit.

“With the full powers of independence we can do so much more – and conference will debate the economic foundations of an independent Scotland as we build for tomorrow.  

“Scotland’s future lies in Europe – and people in Scotland should be given a choice between independence and Brexit.”