Scottish independence: Poll shows dip in support for Yes vote

• Support falls from 39 per cent to 35 per cent from January to June

• Opposition to independence stands at 55 per cent

• Alex Salmond’s approval rating falls but still most popular leader

About 35 per cent of people who are certain to vote backed independence, down four points since a poll in January.

Opposition has increased by five points to 55 per cent at the same time, the poll by Ipsos MORI showed.

More than 1,000 people were asked if they agree Scotland should be an independent country, the SNP’s preferred question for the ballot in late 2014.

The survey was conducted between June 7 and 13, shortly after the highly-publicised and celebrity-endorsed Yes Scotland campaign launch on May 25.

The formal No campaign is expected to begin next week.

Among all voters, including those who were not sure if they would vote or not, 32 per cent agreed with Scottish independence and 55 per cent disagreed.

The poll also ranked party leaders by popularity, scoring them on the difference between those who think they are doing a good job or performing badly.

First Minister Alex Salmond’s approval rating fell by nine percentage points but still remains in front with a net “satisfaction” rating of 13 per cent.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie followed on 12 per cent and Labour leader Johann Lamont scored 9 per cent.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders fared worse, with Prime Minister David Cameron scoring the lowest at -46 per cent.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson scored -7 per cent while Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie recorded -4 per cent.