Scottish independence: Thousands on the streets for weekend campaign

Thousands of supporters of both sides in the Scottish referendum debate have taken to the streets on the final weekend before the vote.

The pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign claimed Saturday would be the "biggest day of national campaigning" Scotland has ever seen. The Better Together campaign claimed there would be "a thousand events all across Scotland today". Supporters of both sides argued that the momentum was with them.

The latest poll of polls collating the the six most recent surveys - carried out between 9 and 12 September and excluding "don't knows" - puts the No campaign on 51% and the Yes campaign on 49%.

And a new Sunday Times poll - conducted by Panelbase - puts the No campaign on 50.6% and the Yes campaign on 49.4%. That is a narrowing of the gap compared with the paper's poll for last weekend, which showed a No campaign lead of 52% to 48%.

'Momentum growing'

Saturday's campaigning followed interventions in the debate by businesses raising concerns about independence, which "Yes" campaigners claimed was "orchestrated" by the UK government.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "The 'Yes' campaign has been carried along by a flourishing of self-confidence among people in Scotland.

"That momentum is still growing and will soon become unstoppable, as people reject the Downing Street-orchestrated campaign to talk Scotland down.

"Today thousands of Yes supporters from communities across Scotland will be running the biggest campaign day of action Scotland's ever seen."

On the Yes campaign trail

Scotland today is a nation frantic with political activity and campaigners for independence, for so long the underdogs in this debate, are relishing the energy.

Every time he stepped from a car or a helicopter, Alex Salmond was surrounded by supporters.

On Prestwick high street in Ayrshire this morning, the first minister rallied the troops before popping in to the local Wetherspoons for a swift half.

The choice was not accidental. The boss of the pub chain, Tim Martin, has been a voice of support for independence saying "Scotland could do very well on its own".

Other businesses have taken a very different view with talk of economic disaster if there is a "Yes" vote.

But travelling by helicopter from town to town, Mr Salmond seemed remarkably relaxed about such interventions.

He thinks he has caught the mood of the public, insisting they don't want to hear tales of doom and gloom.

Better Together published a new poll on Saturday suggesting 53.5% opposed independence and 46.5% backed it, when undecided voters were excluded.

The telephone poll, commissioned by Better Together from pollsters Survation, reached 1,044 respondents, with an effective sample size of 927. Conducted between 10 and 12 September, it used a different methodology from previous Survation polls. Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall said: "This poll suggests that 'No' are in the lead but that the race is far from over. "No-one can afford a protest vote. Any one of us could cast the vote that makes the difference between the UK staying together or breaking apart."

Labour MP Jim Murphy, for Better Together, added: "I get a sense now the momentum has switched back - huge numbers of undecided voters are coming to us, there's a thousand events all across Scotland today." Responding to the poll, a Yes Scotland spokesperson said: "There is everything to play for, and this will spur on everybody who wants and is working hard for a 'Yes' to redouble their efforts.

"A 'Yes' vote is our one opportunity to achieve job-creating powers, protect our NHS from the damaging impact of Westminster privatisation and cuts, and ensure that never again do we get Tory governments imposed on Scotland that we have roundly rejected."