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| Civil service boss rejects claims officials acted improperly | Civil service boss rejects claims officials acted improperly |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The head of the civil service has rejected claims by Alex Salmond that the Treasury deliberately leaked sensitive information to damage the campaign for Scottish independence. | The head of the civil service has rejected claims by Alex Salmond that the Treasury deliberately leaked sensitive information to damage the campaign for Scottish independence. |
| Sir Jeremy Heywood also denied accusations of scaremongering. | Sir Jeremy Heywood also denied accusations of scaremongering. |
| Mr Salmond has called for an inquiry into the alleged leaking of sensitive data. | Mr Salmond has called for an inquiry into the alleged leaking of sensitive data. |
| A source close to the first minister said the response of the Cabinet Secretary did not clear the Treasury. | |
| Meanwhile, a new opinion poll suggested the "No" campaign was leading by 52% to 48%. | |
| The YouGov survey for The Sun and The Times, which excluded those who were undecided, was based on the questioning of 1,268 electors online between 9 September and 11 September. | The YouGov survey for The Sun and The Times, which excluded those who were undecided, was based on the questioning of 1,268 electors online between 9 September and 11 September. |
| The political row involving Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy and Scotland's first minister erupted with less than a week to go until the referendum. | The political row involving Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy and Scotland's first minister erupted with less than a week to go until the referendum. |
| It comes after officials confirmed to the media that RBS had made contingency plans to move its registered head office from Edinburgh to London. | It comes after officials confirmed to the media that RBS had made contingency plans to move its registered head office from Edinburgh to London. |
| Five banks - including RBS - have said they might move operations out of Scotland, while John Lewis and Asda warned prices may rise. | Five banks - including RBS - have said they might move operations out of Scotland, while John Lewis and Asda warned prices may rise. |
| Mr Salmond accused the UK government of deliberately leaking the news about RBS to the BBC and other news outlets before the bank made the announcement officially. | Mr Salmond accused the UK government of deliberately leaking the news about RBS to the BBC and other news outlets before the bank made the announcement officially. |
| He said it was an attempt of scaremongering aimed at damaging the independence campaign and called for an investigation into civil servants leaking market sensitive information. | He said it was an attempt of scaremongering aimed at damaging the independence campaign and called for an investigation into civil servants leaking market sensitive information. |
| "It puts the Treasury fingerprints all over this story and it provides a spectacular example of the sort of campaign tactics of intimidation and bullying that have served the 'No' campaign so badly," he said. | "It puts the Treasury fingerprints all over this story and it provides a spectacular example of the sort of campaign tactics of intimidation and bullying that have served the 'No' campaign so badly," he said. |
| But, in a letter to Mr Salmond, Sir Jeremy insisted that staff had merely "confirmed its understanding of RBS's contingency planning" judging this was important to "maintain financial stability". | But, in a letter to Mr Salmond, Sir Jeremy insisted that staff had merely "confirmed its understanding of RBS's contingency planning" judging this was important to "maintain financial stability". |
| He said they were responding to journalists' questions at a time when the UK financial markets were closed. | He said they were responding to journalists' questions at a time when the UK financial markets were closed. |
| 'Code not breached' | 'Code not breached' |
| It was not a UK government announcement, he said, but a confirmation of the Treasury's understanding of RBS's contingency plan. | It was not a UK government announcement, he said, but a confirmation of the Treasury's understanding of RBS's contingency plan. |
| Sir Jeremy added that he had consulted Prime Minister David Cameron on the issue, who was clear that there had been no breach of the Ministerial Code. | Sir Jeremy added that he had consulted Prime Minister David Cameron on the issue, who was clear that there had been no breach of the Ministerial Code. |
| Politicians on both sides of the independence debate are to ramp up their campaigning on Friday. | Politicians on both sides of the independence debate are to ramp up their campaigning on Friday. |
| In a commentary released with its poll results, YouGov said although "No" was back in front, the "Yes" campaign had held on to most of its gains since early August. | In a commentary released with its poll results, YouGov said although "No" was back in front, the "Yes" campaign had held on to most of its gains since early August. |
| "These gains have come partly from people switching from No to Yes and partly from don't knows," it said. | "These gains have come partly from people switching from No to Yes and partly from don't knows," it said. |
| "Counting all respondents, 'No' led 'Yes' by 55 to 35% five weeks ago, with 11% saying don't know. Compared with then, 'Yes' is up 10 points to 45%, and 'No' and don't know both down by five points, to 50% and 6% respectively." | "Counting all respondents, 'No' led 'Yes' by 55 to 35% five weeks ago, with 11% saying don't know. Compared with then, 'Yes' is up 10 points to 45%, and 'No' and don't know both down by five points, to 50% and 6% respectively." |
| With many voters still undecided, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon will tour Scotland's cities highlighting "seven key gains of independence". | With many voters still undecided, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon will tour Scotland's cities highlighting "seven key gains of independence". |
| They claim independence would bring gains including job-creating powers, protection for the NHS, the removal of nuclear weapons and control of social security. | They claim independence would bring gains including job-creating powers, protection for the NHS, the removal of nuclear weapons and control of social security. |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "All across Scotland more and more people are waking up to the opportunities of independence - and this tour of our seven cities will be a fantastic way for us to take the positive message of independence directly to the people of Scotland. | Ms Sturgeon said: "All across Scotland more and more people are waking up to the opportunities of independence - and this tour of our seven cities will be a fantastic way for us to take the positive message of independence directly to the people of Scotland. |
| "A 'Yes' vote is our opportunity to transform childcare, get rid of the obscenity of Trident nuclear weapons from the River Clyde and stop the Tories from putting up to 100,000 more children into poverty. | "A 'Yes' vote is our opportunity to transform childcare, get rid of the obscenity of Trident nuclear weapons from the River Clyde and stop the Tories from putting up to 100,000 more children into poverty. |
| "Independence isn't a magic wand but it's an opportunity we simply can't afford to pass up - which is why I am so confident that the people of Scotland will vote 'Yes' next week." | "Independence isn't a magic wand but it's an opportunity we simply can't afford to pass up - which is why I am so confident that the people of Scotland will vote 'Yes' next week." |
| Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson will call on Scots not to walk away from the UK's "progressive agenda". | Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson will call on Scots not to walk away from the UK's "progressive agenda". |
| The MP for East Dumbartonshire and UK Employment Relations Minister will meet local businesspeople in Bearsden to argue that Scotland benefits from progressive policies including flexible working. | The MP for East Dumbartonshire and UK Employment Relations Minister will meet local businesspeople in Bearsden to argue that Scotland benefits from progressive policies including flexible working. |
| Family of nations | Family of nations |
| Fellow Lib Dem MP and former party leader Charles Kennedy, campaigning in Glasgow, argued that Scots should not "walk away" from the UK. | Fellow Lib Dem MP and former party leader Charles Kennedy, campaigning in Glasgow, argued that Scots should not "walk away" from the UK. |
| "Like millions of Scots I've had the benefit of being part of a bigger UK and I don't believe that we should walk away from that," he said. | "Like millions of Scots I've had the benefit of being part of a bigger UK and I don't believe that we should walk away from that," he said. |
| "Together, our family of nations has achieved great things. | "Together, our family of nations has achieved great things. |
| "In so many ways we have built the best. In the NHS we have the best health service in the world. We are the world's second largest aid donor, helping the planet's poorest." | "In so many ways we have built the best. In the NHS we have the best health service in the world. We are the world's second largest aid donor, helping the planet's poorest." |
| Elsewhere, Labour leader Ed Miliband will continue campaigning for the "No" vote alongside former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | Elsewhere, Labour leader Ed Miliband will continue campaigning for the "No" vote alongside former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
| And UKIP leader Nigel Farage will hold a "pro-Union" rally in Glasgow with fellow UKIP politicians, where he is to claim that an independent Scotland would not be able to keep the pound - and would be forced to join the euro. | And UKIP leader Nigel Farage will hold a "pro-Union" rally in Glasgow with fellow UKIP politicians, where he is to claim that an independent Scotland would not be able to keep the pound - and would be forced to join the euro. |
| Mr Farage will warn that a "Yes" vote next week would be a misnomer - because Scotland would still be ruled by Brussels. | Mr Farage will warn that a "Yes" vote next week would be a misnomer - because Scotland would still be ruled by Brussels. |
| The party is not involved with Better Together, which said UKIP had "no part to play" in its campaign. | The party is not involved with Better Together, which said UKIP had "no part to play" in its campaign. |
| Mr Farage told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "Whether you think being in the EU is a good thing or a bad thing, what is absolutely certain is that their courts are supreme, their laws are supreme and you cannot be an independent country and a member of the European Union. | Mr Farage told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "Whether you think being in the EU is a good thing or a bad thing, what is absolutely certain is that their courts are supreme, their laws are supreme and you cannot be an independent country and a member of the European Union. |
| "I would hate to think that there are, particularly Labour voters, that have switched to the 'Yes' side because they view the Westminster political class with such contempt, something indeed I share, believing that Scotland will be independent and self-governing, when it won't." | "I would hate to think that there are, particularly Labour voters, that have switched to the 'Yes' side because they view the Westminster political class with such contempt, something indeed I share, believing that Scotland will be independent and self-governing, when it won't." |
| The UKIP leader said the currency was Mr Salmond's "Achilles heel". | The UKIP leader said the currency was Mr Salmond's "Achilles heel". |
| "The fact is he will have to sign up, when he signs up to the EU, to a commitment to join the euro. People say 'of course Scotland is not as Europsceptic as England'. I tell you something, it is not that far behind. | "The fact is he will have to sign up, when he signs up to the EU, to a commitment to join the euro. People say 'of course Scotland is not as Europsceptic as England'. I tell you something, it is not that far behind. |
| "If the Scottish people want to separate from Westminster, want to be part of the EU state, want the euro as their currency then voting 'Yes' is fine for them. | "If the Scottish people want to separate from Westminster, want to be part of the EU state, want the euro as their currency then voting 'Yes' is fine for them. |
| "But my job today is to say 'hold on, you are being sold a false prospectus'." | "But my job today is to say 'hold on, you are being sold a false prospectus'." |