EDINBURGH, September 2 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – A surge in support for Scottish independence will be a surprise and a shock for both sides of the campaign, Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University has told RIA Novosti.
“Up until this point the only period when there was a consistent movement in one direction for the Yes side was last winter. The polls have been relatively stable until now so this will come as a surprise and a shock for the No side,” Professor Curtice said.
A new poll published Tuesday in the Sun and Times newspapers by polling firm YouGov shows support for the Yes side has risen by 8 points in less than a month.
The support for Scottish independence is running at 47 per cent, up 8 points since early August, whilst support for No has dropped 3 points, but the Pro-UK side are still narrowly in the lead.
Blair Jenkins, the head of pro-independence campaign Yes Scotland, claimed the poll showed the momentum was now with the pro-Scottish independence side.
“This breakthrough poll shows that Yes has the big momentum - it's an all-time high for Yes support in a YouGov survey so far, and an eight-point swing from No to Yes in just three weeks. We only need another three-point swing to achieve a Yes for Scotland on the 18th,” Jenkins said.
Curitce, however, noted that some caution was needed to avoid reading too much into one poll, but agreed the increase in support for Yes would “electrify” the campaign as it enters its final stages.
“Too much should never be read into one poll and we still await a poll that actually puts the Yes side ahead,” Strathclyde University professor stressed.
“But there seems little doubt that this latest poll will electrify the campaign. The Yes side will now be able to argue with some conviction that they have gained momentum and can hope that they might yet secure a dramatic and historic victory,” he concluded.
Scots will go to the polls on September 18 and will be asked one question, «Should Scotland become an independent country?"
