THE former chair of Yes Scotland has warned against "complacency" after 21 straight polls revealed more Scots want independence.
Dennis Canavan was a Labour MP before serving as an independent MSP.
He was made chairman of the Yes Scotland advisory board in the run-up to the 2014 vote in an appointment which followed three decades of frontline politics.
Now the veteran campaigner has warned indy voters that the Scottish Parliament election result – and a second referendum – are not done deals in the wake of a score of polls proving sustained support for constitutional change.
And he says a "fragmented" Yes vote on the regional list in May is "unlikely" to increase the number of pro-independence parties elected.
That comment comes as several new parties – the Independence for Scotland Party, Action for Independence and Scotia Future – prepare their campaigns.
Canavan told the Sunday National: "If recent opinion polls are accurate, the SNP looks set for victory on May 6, with possibly an over-all majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament.
"But there is no room for complacency or hubris. There is still a lot of work to be done between now and May 6 and even more work in the lead-up to indyref2."
This week Savanta ComRes research for The Scotsman was the 21st consecutive survey to put Yes in front.
More than 1000 adults of voting age were interviewed online, with 47% backing change and 42% opposing it.
When the 'don't knows' are excluded, the figures change to 53% for Yes and 47% for No.
The forecast put the SNP on 54% of the vote for the constituency and contest and 43% for the list. That performance would give them 10 more MSPs for a total of 71 and a parliamentary majority of 13.
The Scottish Greens are also thought to be on course for a record 11 MSPs, an increase of five on the 2016 election.
Meanwhile, the Tories are on track to secure 23% of the constituency vote and 21% on the list, Labour support is at 16% and 18% respectively and the LibDems are at around 6% for both votes.
Only 2% indicated they'd give their list vote to "other" parties.
On the emergence of new pro-independence parties, Canavan said: "I can see where they are coming from in wanting to maximise the number of pro-independence MSPs.
"But opinion polls so far would indicate that they are unlikely to have much impact, partly because their support is fragmented.
"For them to have any chance of success, they would probably have to unite to form one party and negotiate an electoral pact with the SNP.
"Frankly I do not see that happening, but I do hope that there is no acrimony and that, after the election is over, supporters of independence will come together to ensure that an independent Scotland becomes a reality."
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He added: "Assuming that the SNP continues as the party of government, it will obviously lead the indyref2 campaign.
"However, I have always believed that independence will not be delivered by SNP voters alone.
"A successful Yes campaign must be as comprehensive and inclusive as possible, embracing people of various political persuasions."
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