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Scottish independence: 'Leak' row marks weekend's campaign Scottish independence: Business row marks weekend campaign
(about 5 hours later)
Campaigners in the Scottish independence referendum are gearing up for a final weekend of activity. A row over the intervention of business leaders and banks in the Scottish independence debate has intensified as the campaign enters its final weekend.
First Minister Alex Salmond will continue his helicopter tour of the country. First Minister Alex Salmond described interventions by business figures as "blatant intimidation" by Westminster.
It comes as chief economist at Deutsche Bank David Folkerts-Landau said voters and politicians had failed to grasp the negative consequences of independence.
Meanwhile, a Guardian/ICM poll put the "No" vote at 51%, with "Yes" on 49%.
It comes after a YouGov opinion poll was published on Thursday evening suggesting that the "No" campaign was leading by 52% to 48%, once undecided voters were excluded.
Police complaint
Ahead of the final weekend of the campaign, Mr Salmond has renewed his complaint that the Treasury broke ministerial rules when it confirmed to journalists that the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) planned to relocate its registered headquarters from Edinburgh to London in the event of a "Yes" vote.
He has written to Sir Jeremy Heywood, the UK's most senior civil servant, asking "which minister or official authorised the release [of the information about RBS]" and "at what time the information was released".
BBC economics editor Robert Peston said he had been told the Treasury briefed journalists about the plans to potentially move to London before the board of RBS had formally approved the decision.
Our correspondent said that when journalists were emailed on Wednesday evening by the Treasury, to tell them about the relocation plans of RBS and Lloyds, RBS's board "was still meeting" to decide whether to tell shareholders the following morning.
He said sources had told him they did not believe it was a case of market abuse, or the illegal release of price sensitive information, because the UK and US stock markets were shut at the time of the briefing.
Police Scotland have confirmed they have received a complaint from RBS shareholder Peter de Vink, a supporter of independence for Scotland, alleging the UK government leaked market-sensitive information about the bank.
It comes as a letter warning of price rises in the event of a "Yes" vote has been written by Kingfisher Group head Sir Ian Cheshire and signed by other business leaders - including the heads of John Lewis, Asda and Marks and Spencer.
The letter is due to be published in the coming days.
Great Depression
And Deutsche Bank's Mr Folkerts-Landau has said it was "incomprehensible" that Scotland was even contemplating withdrawal from the UK.
The chief economist compared a potential "Yes" vote to the mistakes which led to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
"A 'Yes' vote for Scottish independence on Thursday would go down in history as a political and economic mistake as large as Winston Churchill's decision in 1925 to return the pound to the Gold Standard or the failure of the Federal Reserve to provide sufficient liquidity to the US banking system, which we now know brought on the Great Depression in the US," he said.
However, the Scottish Government accused him of failing to take into account Scotland's "strong fiscal position".
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said Scotland would start life as an independent nation "from stronger economic foundations than any other nation in history".
Across the final weekend of campaigning, Mr Salmond is due to continue his helicopter tour of the country, including stops in Oban, Dumfries, Ayr and Glasgow.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who will be in Glasgow, said the "Yes" campaign would focus on Scotland's wealth, job-creating powers and the NHS in the final weekend of campaigning.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be campaigning for Better Together, as will Labour MP Jim Murphy, who will complete his 100-town tour of Scotland.Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be campaigning for Better Together, as will Labour MP Jim Murphy, who will complete his 100-town tour of Scotland.
Meanwhile, a row continues over the alleged leaking of information about RBS by the UK Treasury.
According to the BBC's Economics Editor Robert Peston, the Treasury briefed journalists about RBS's intention to relocate to London if Scotland were to go for independence, before RBS's board had formally made the decision to announce the move.
Mr Salmond has written to Sir Jeremy Heywood, the UK's most senior civil servant, asking "which minister or official authorised the release [of the information about RBS]" and "at what time the information was released".
Robert Peston said sources at RBS told him they do not believe that the government was breaching its commitment not to interfere with corporate decision-making and becoming what is known as a shadow director of RBS.
They also said they do not believe this was a case of market abuse, or the illegal release of price sensitive information, because the UK and US stock markets were shut at the time of the briefing.
The first minister's helicopter tour is expected to include stops in Oban, Dumfries, Ayr and Glasgow.
Jim Murphy is planning to complete his 100-town tour of Scotland on behalf of Better Together.
Thousands of Orange Order supporters are gathering in Edinburgh for a rally on behalf of the United Kingdom.Thousands of Orange Order supporters are gathering in Edinburgh for a rally on behalf of the United Kingdom.
Henry Dunbar, grand master of the Orange Order in Scotland, is expected to tell marchers: "The 'No' campaign has been criticised for not showing enough passion for the Union - well look out, here comes some passion.
"We are the Orangemen and women of Scotland and we are passionate about our Queen and country."
On Thursday voters in Scotland will go to the polls to answer the Yes/No question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"