A step towards Scottish independence? TV debate victory sees Yes camp narrow the gap
The likelihood of Scotland breaking apart from the rest of the UK appears to have been significantly boosted by last week’s TV debate between First Minister Alex Salmond and ex-chancellor Alistair Darling.
With just over a fortnight until Scotland goes to the polls, a shock survey published last night reveals a seven-point swing towards support for independence.
Salmond’s perceived victory over Darling in what was the final TV debate has seen the Yes vote jump four points to 42 per cent, while the No vote has slipped three points to 48 per cent – according to a YouGov poll conducted for the Times and the Sun.
At the start of August a separate YouGov poll showed the No camp on 61 per cent, when undecided voters are ironed out. Yet sentiment appears to have changed in the last week, and last night’s poll shows only 53 per cent support for staying part of the UK, once undecided respondents are excluded.
“What is sensational about the latest YouGov poll is that the firm has been showing the lowest figures for Yes,” commented Mike Smithson of Politicalbetting.com last night.
YouGov president Peter Kellner said: “Salmond is within touching distance of victory.”