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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Fionnula Hainey

Nicola Sturgeon 'fighting for EU future' - but new poll says Scots don't want second independence referendum

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been in Berlin 'fighting for an EU future' five years on from the 2014 independence referendum.

The Scottish National Party leader has said she is certain Scotland would vote for independence in a second referendum - but a new poll has suggested fewer than three out of 10 Scots want there to be another vote in the next 18 months.

The new poll, carried out by the pro-UK group Scotland in Union, asked voters: "Should Scotland remain in the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?" - a different question from that put to voters on the September 18 referendum.

Ms Sturgeon hit back at the results by accusing the group of 'rigging the question'.

She tweeted: "If anti independence campaigners believed the findings of the poll they have published today, they’d be clamouring for #indyref2 - but they don’t, which is why they are spending so much time trying to either block it or rig the question."

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The hashtag #StillYes has been trending on Twitter this afternoon, as Nicola Sturgeon spoke to government and business leaders in the German capital.

Supporters of Scottish independence have been using the hashtag to pledge support for second referendum on the anniversary of the 2014 vote.

Two years after Scots rejected independence, voters backed keeping the UK in the EU - however the UK as a whole voted to leave.

Ms Sturgeon stressed that Scotland was an "outward-looking European nation" - as she pledged to do "everything" in her power to try to halt a possible no-deal Brexit as Britiain prepares to leave the EU on October 31.

She added: "The EU's fundamental values are ones we cherish - freedom, democracy, the rule of law, equality, and respect for human dignity and human rights.

"Scotland clearly benefits from EU membership.

"It is good for our businesses, our universities, and our people - who have the freedom to study, live and work across the continent."

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