The Herald / Daniel Sanderson, Scottish Political Correspondent / Wednesday 9 September 2015 / News

The survey of 1023 adults for TNS mirrors the results of an Ipsos Mori poll last week, which also predicted that support for independence had surged since 55 per cent voted against leaving the UK in September last year.

When asked by TNS how they would vote if another referendum took place tomorrow, 47 per cent said they would vote Yes, 42 per cent No with 11 per cent undecided. With don’t knows excluded, Yes is ahead by 53 to 47 per cent.

A second poll in little more than a week predicting that a majority of Scots would back independence is likely to increase pressure on Nicola Sturgeon from some within her own party to seek a mandate for a second referendum at next year’s Holyrood election.

Tom Costley, head of TNS Scotland, said: “The apparent change of mood towards independence gives the SNP a difficult decision on whether to include a commitment to a referendum in its manifesto for next year’s elections.

“On the one hand, some will argue that ‘just one more heave’ will get the Yes vote over the line, and will be disappointed if there is no commitment to try again. Others will argue that a six-point lead can be overturned in a long campaign, and that a second lost referendum would make it hard to make another attempt for the foreseeable future.”

Younger voters remain the most committed to independence, with 59 per cent of 16-34s supporting a Yes Vote, with 28 per cent for No (and 13 per cent don’t know). Among those aged 35-54, Yes leads by 53 points to 39 (8 per cent don’t know), and the over-55s favour a No vote by 58 per cent to 31 (12 per cent don’t know).

The survey also shows that the long-time Labour stronghold of Glasgow, which went for Yes in the referendum, is still in the pro-independence camp: the Yes lead in the city is 50 per cent to 38 per cent (12 per cent don’t know). The No side has a six-point lead in the North East (49 to 43, with 8 per cent Don’t know) and a five-point lead in the Lothians (45 per cent to 40 per cent, 15 per cent don’t know).

Meanwhile, the SNP’s lead in the polls for next year’s Scottish Parliament vote has narrowed slightly. 58 per cent of those who expressed a preference would back the SNP in the constituency section of the vote for the May 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, down from 62 per cent a month ago.

Labour rose three percentage points to 23 per cent, Conservative support stood at 12 per cent (unchanged) with the Liberal Democrats on 5 per cent (up 2 points). This represents a seven point cut in the SNP lead to a still formidable 35 points.

In the regional vote, 51 per cent of those expressing an opinion supported the SNP (down 3 points) with 24 per cent for Labour (+4), 11 per cent for the Conservatives (-1), 6 per cent for the Liberal Democrats (+2) and 6 per cent for the Greens (-2).

According to the Scotland Votes seat predictor, if the results are repeated next May they would leave the SNP with 75 seats, a comfortable majority, with Labour on 32 MSPs, the Tories 11, the Lib Dems six and the Greens five.