Could Partygate help split the United Kingdom? Poll shows support for Scottish independence creeping up again to 50% as four-fifths say Boris should quit

 Fears were raised today that the Partygate row is fuelling Nicola Sturgeon's push to split up the UK.

A poll found more than half of Scots believe the saga threatening to engulf Boris Johnson has hurt the case for the Union.

Some 78 per cent believe the PM should resign over the allegations of lockdown breaches in Downing Street.

And support for independence has crept up to 50 per cent, although the nation is still divided down the middle on whether to go it alone.

Ms Sturgeon has pledged to do 'everything in my power' to hold a referendum next year, although Mr Johnson insists he will not agree to one.  

The Savanta ComRes research for the Scotsman makes grim reading for No10, as Mr Johnson tries to quell a coup attempt form his own benches.

Asked how they would vote if a referendum on Scottish independence was held tomorrow, 50 per cent said they would vote yes – two points higher than in October

Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross is among those who have demanded the PM's resignation after he admitted attending a 'BYOB' bash at the height of lockdown in May 2020 - although he insists he thought it was a 'work event'.  

The survey found 54 per cent said the furore had hurt the case for the union to some extent.

Just over a third thought there was no real impact, while 11 per cent did not know.

Asked how they would vote if a referendum on Scottish independence was held tomorrow, 50 per cent said they would vote yes – two points higher than in October.

Including don't knows, support for both Yes and No was at 46 per cent with 8 per cent undecided. 

Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta ComRes, said: 'A 50/50 split on the independence voting intention does represent a bit of shift towards Yes since our last poll in October, but ultimately, given the disaster the UK Government in Westminster is currently experiencing, one would perhaps expect support for independence to be higher.'

:: Savanta Comres surveyed 1,004 Scots aged 16 and over between January 14 and 18

Fears were raised today that the Partygate row threatening to engulf Boris Johnson (left) is fuelling Nicola Sturgeon's (right) push to split up the UK