Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has said Westminster would not stand in the way of a second Scottish independence referendum if it is the 'settled will' of voters amid a decline in support for secession.
London has repeatedly rejected demands from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for the powers necessary to hold another vote and split the UK, but Mr Gove - who is responsible for countering the push for independence - has now said if the public desire a second poll, 'one would occur'.
The Cabinet Office minister, who previously said Westminster had ruled out a second referendum before the 2024 General Election, told the Sunday Mail: 'The principle that the people of Scotland, in the right circumstances, can ask that question again is there.
'I just don't think that it is right, and the public don't think it is right, to ask that question at the moment. If it is the case that there is clearly a settled will in favour of a referendum, then one will occur.'
Following around six months of consistent polling showing majority support for separation last year - with one poll going as high as 58 per cent in favour - the tide began to turn at the beginning of 2021.
The most recent survey by Panelbase for the Sunday Times found 48 per cent of the 1,287 respondents supported leaving the UK.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has said Westminster would not stand in the way of a second Scottish independence referendum if it is the 'settled will' of voters amid a decline in support for secession
London has repeatedly rejected demands from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for the necessary powers to hold another vote, but Mr Gove - who is responsible for countering the push for independence - has now said if the public desire a second poll, 'one would occur'
It is unclear what would convince the UK Government that another vote is the 'settled will' of Scots but it could potentially mean positive election results for independence parties or continuous polling in favour for a certain period of time.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said he believed May's election to be an indicator that the 'settled will' of the Scottish people is in favour of independence.
The SNP fell just one seat short of a