More than twice as many Scots want the UK to remain part of the European Union than leave it, our poll reveals.
It shows 54% will vote to stay in the EU in the upcoming referendum, compared with just 25% who will back an exit.
This sets Scotland apart from the rest of the country where the gap is much smaller, with the last UK-wide poll showing 45% support for the EU and 36% in opposition.
An SNP spokesman said: “These figures underline the importance of the ‘double majority’ democratic safeguard for Scotland that Nicola Sturgeon has proposed that for the UK to be able to leave the European Union, each constituent part, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would have to vote to exit.
“Otherwise, Scotland could be dragged out against our will.
“The 56 SNP MPs will move an amendment to the EU Referendum Bill on this basis, and seek support across political parties and across the UK.”
Those taking part in the poll were asked how they would vote in a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union. A total of 54% said they would vote to remain part of the EU, 25% said they want to leave, 21% said they did not know and 1% said they would not vote.
Once undecided voters are stripped out, you get 68% of Scots in favour of the EU and 32% against it.
The new Tory Government has pledged to hold the EU referendum by 2017 but there is speculation it will take place next year.
Former Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson said the Prime Minister had a lot of work to do.
He said: “David Cameron will have to move fast if he hopes to bring forward the referendum to 2016. Achieving change in the EU is like putting the brakes on a supertanker it can take forever.
“The question for David Cameron is how far and how fast he can he push Jean-Claude Juncker (President of the European Commission) to achieve the scale of reforms that might satisfy his arch Eurosceptic MPs, including his own Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond.
“It may be possible for Osborne and Hammond to argue a case that enables Britain to call a halt to some benefits payments to migrants from other EU member states, but there will be no chance of restricting the numbers of people who come to Britain from the EU seeking work.”Poll May 2015 | Create infographics
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