Two thirds of voters want independence referendum by 2014

Parliament: 'Devo max' has support of 68% of voters.© Deadline

The majority of Scottish voters want a referendum on independence before 2014, a poll has revealed.

An Ipsos MORI survey for the Times newspaper found that 64% of Scots want the chance to vote on the country's constitutional future within the next two years.

And a third of voters want a referendum to be held "as soon as possible".

The SNP has pledged to bring forward the referendum in the second half of the current parliamentary term – but this poll suggests most Scots would prefer it to be sooner.

Those polled were also asked how they would vote in a referendum on independence. A total of 38% of those who said they would definitely vote said they supported independence, while 57% want Scotland to remain part of the Union.

Ipsos MORI said that these figures showed a 3 point rise in voters' support for independence since August.

Meanwhile, around 68% of respondents wanted more financial and other powers to be devolved to Holyrood – the so-called "devo max" option that could appear on a referendum paper.

People aged under 34 are most likely to back Scottish independence, Ipsos MORI said. Support was at 47% among those aged 18-24 and 58% for 25-34 year olds. Three-fifths (61%) who would vote SNP would also vote for independence.

First Minister Alex Salmond has repeatedly deflected calls from opponents, including Prime Minister David Cameron, to move the date forward, saying his party would stick to the timetable announced during their election campaign.

Welcoming the poll, he said: "The people of Scotland are light years ahead of the Westminster parties and the inadequate provisions of the Scotland Bill. They want real economic and financial powers for the Scottish Parliament so that we can strengthen recovery and boost employment.

"The SNP Government have always said that we are willing to have a devo max option in the referendum, and the question for Labour and the Lib Dems is whether they wish it to be included. The only alternative for Labour and the Lib Dems is joining with the Tories in rejecting any additional powers for Scotland in the referendum, a disastrous position in Scottish politics.

"The SNP received an overwhelming mandate from the people of Scotland in May to hold a referendum in the second half of this parliament and that is exactly what we will do."

The poll follows survey results from earlier in December which showed the SNP is twice as popular as Labour.

Mark Diffley, research director at Ipsos MORI, said: "Although our poll last week revealed growing support for the SNP, a clear majority of Scots do not currently support full independence and would prefer to remain part of the UK, albeit with the Scottish Parliament given substantial new powers.

"There does however appear to be growing support for the referendum to be held sooner rather than later which could put some pressure on the Scottish Government to alter its preference for holding the ballot in the second half of the current term."

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