The man leading the campaign to keep the union intact has insisted he is “very confident” that voters will reject independence, despite a shock poll suggesting the United Kingdom could be consigned to history in 10 days’ time.
Alistair Darling said the gap between support for the Yes and No campaigns had always been expected to narrow and dismissed claims that the pro-UK Better Together campaign was now being forced into panic measures to shore up support.
But the snowballing momentum behind the separatists has sent the pound plummeting to a 10-month low of just below 1.62 versus the US dollar and Scotland-based financial institutions have also taken a hit, with Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group and Standard Life shares falling by more than 2%.
David Cameron, who spent the weekend with the Queen at Balmoral, will attempt to convince sceptics this week that Scotland will get significantly more autonomy even if independence is rejected.
Labour is deploying some of its biggest beasts to try to halt the apparent nationalist surge – with Ed Miliband also stressing that extra powers will start being devolved “right after” a No vote.
Mr Darling dismissed suggestions that plans to outline the handover of more powers this week were little more than a bribe.
He told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme: “The additional powers coming to the Scottish Parliament were announced by the party leaders north and south of the border some time ago.
“People have said yes, we want to know the timetable and the process, and that is something that the Government is going to announce this week.”
He added: “I have always said that the polls will narrow because this is a huge debate. We are seeing record amounts of people registering to vote.”
Mr Darling said voters were “very alive to the risks” in breaking away, particularly the uncertainty over the currency.
“I believe that we will win this referendum because a majority of people in Scotland do want to ensure that there is a better and stronger future for themselves and the generations to come,” he said.
“I’m very confident we will win the day.”
Source Article from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/union-supporters-mount-fightback-232741965.html
Darling 'confident' of a No vote
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