Poll boost for No camp as heavyweights step in

The Survation poll for the Daily Record suggested that, stripping out undecided voters, 53 per cent of Scots are set to opt to stay in the Union. The poll was published at the end of a day which saw the three leaders of the main Westminster parties abandon Prime Minister’s Questions to campaign north of the border in the wake of two polls earlier in the week pointing towards a surge of support for independence. But Yes Scotland insisted the new survey was not a blow as it showed the highest ever pro-independence support in a poll conducted by Survation.

Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said: “As we say in response to all the polls, we are working flat out to ensure that we achieve a Yes vote, because it’s the biggest opportunity the people of Scotland will ever have to build a fairer society and more prosperous economy.”

The Better Together campaign had previously relied on Scottish politicians to advocate its message, fearing that English Westminster politicians might do more damage than good. But that strategy was abandoned spectacularly yesterday as David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband all spent the day campaigning in Scotland.

Cameron’s plea to Scots not to break up ‘UK family’: Page 4