Scottish Referendum Is 'Too Close To Call'

By Joey Jones, Deputy Political Editor

A research agency has said the Scottish referendum outcome is "too close to call" as both sides enter the final days of the vote campaign.

TNS said the Yes and No campaigns were neck and neck with 41% ahead of the vote on September 18.

Tom Costley, head of TNS Scotland, said: "This poll reveals a remarkable shift in voting intentions but the signs were evident in our last couple of polls which indicated a narrowing of the No lead, especially amongst those who told us that they were certain to vote.

"It is too close to call and both sides will now be energised to make the most of the last few days of the campaign and try and persuade the undecided voters of the merits of their respective campaigns."

Gordon Brown revealed a timetable for devolutionary changes on Monday

Some 600,000 people could still have to make up their minds in the referendum, with leaders attempting to win over undecided voters.

It comes as the Scottish leaders of the three main parties unveil a detailed timetable setting out how quickly new powers could be transferred to Holyrood in the event of a No vote.

However, the precise nature of the powers have not been agreed on by all the parties but will give Scotland more control over finance, welfare and taxation.

The Better Together campaign has denied the move amounts to panic measures.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the campaign trail

Gordon Brown attempted to wrest back the initiative for the No campaign on Monday saying he was firing the "starting gun" for the introduction of far-reaching devolutionary changes.

The former Prime Minister is well aware that Labour supporters are increasingly anxious as the polls suggest significant numbers are being persuaded by the Yes campaign.

He told an audience of activists in Loanhead, south of Edinburgh, that far from the positive vision Yes campaigners maintain they are offering, voters should understand that the question is whether "we wish to sever all remaining political connections with our friends, neighbours and relatives in the rest of the UK".

Mr Brown's proposal was welcomed by the Prime Minister but David Cameron was effectively bounced into endorsing Mr Brown's initiative, knowing that he has the ability to energise an electorate that has been resistant to his overtures.

Labour leader Ed Miliband raised a Saltire over Liverpool and is encouraging other councils to do the same to send the message that England wants Scotland to stay in the union.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said pro-independence campaigners have "10 days of hard work" to win the referendum.

He told STV's Scotland Tonight: "This is about people's belief in our country, whether we have the ability to run our country more successfully and more fairly than the Westminster parties.

"I think all of the evidence and all of people's experience is convincing more and more people that we have the ability to do just that."

The TNS poll shows backing for the Yes campaign is up from 38% last month, while support for maintaining the union has dropped from 46%.

The momentum is for now with Yes, but were that to change the pressure would suddenly become just as strong on the other side.

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