The poll found that 52 per cent of voters would back independence, 41 per cent wanted to retain the status quo and seven per cent were undecided. Among younger voters there is a greater support for independence, with 63 per cent of those aged between 18 and 34 voting in favour of an Independent Scotland.

The poll result makes depressing news for the Labour government which took a vast majority of parliamentary seats in Scotland at last year's general election. Labour walked away with 56 of Scotland 72 seats in the House of Commons, with the Scottish National party claiming six and the Liberal Democrats ten.

One of Labour's early priorities in government was the creation of a separate 129-member Parliament for Scotland. Within months of coming to power a referendum was held in Scotland asking people whether they supported the formation ofsuch a parliament which would have legislative and tax raising powers. An overwhelming number of Scottish voters supported the devolution of power to Scotland and the creation of a Parliament.

The Labour government hoped that this was a sign of Scottish support for greater autonomy rather than for full independence, and by extension of greater support for Labour than for its chief rival, the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP).

The SNP, which has come up from the rear to become Labour's chief opponent in Scotland, only supported the creation of a parliament as a stepping stone to independence. The SNP wants the Scottish parliament, elections to which will be held next May, to hold a referendum on independence in its first term of existence.

Alex Salmond, leader of the SNP, said in a radio interview today, ``This is a record of course. This is the highest ever support that's been recorded for Scottish independence.'' Salmond whose party gathers today for a big conference added, ``... It's anindication that the SNP are winning the argument. And clearly there's a spring in our step and there's the wind at our backs.''

The poll, conducted by The Scotsman also found that a higher number of people now said they that felt more Scottish than British, than the last time a poll asked that question, before the general election last year. The poll also found that only 28 per cent of voters saw Labour as a mainly Scottish party as compared with 81 per cent who saw the SNP as a Scottish party.

Other opinion polls conducted over the last three months have shown the SNP making steady inroads into Labour's support base. One poll conducted last month found that the SNP had overtaken Labour in the Scottish parliament stakes by a margin of 41 per cent to 36 per cent. Scotland is by all accounts not very `new' Labour.

Tony Blair's brand of Labour politics, complete with tight spending limits and cuts in social security payouts have not been popular. Labour, in Scotland, has also been laid low byallegations of corruption. The election of Labour MP Mohammed Sarwar, is mired in allegations of bribery; apart from this the Labour controlled Glasgow council is also under investigation for electoral malpractice.

Labour has a whole year to the Scottish parliamentary election, and it may take more than its spin industry for it to maintain its hold.