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| Scottish independence: Campaign leaders stress vote importance | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the independence referendum was "a once in a generation opportunity" and he was aiming for "a substantial majority". | |
| While Better Together leader Alistair Darling said "there is no way back" from independence and his campaign would target undecided voters. | |
| The latest opinion polls have suggested the vote is too close to call. | The latest opinion polls have suggested the vote is too close to call. |
| Both men were speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show. | Both men were speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show. |
| Mr Salmond said: "We're not aiming to win by one vote. We're aiming to achieve a substantial majority if we can." | |
| He added: "We tend to take the attitude that there isn't so much as a 'No' voter in Scotland, there are only deferred 'Yeses', and that's been one of the successes of our campaign." | |
| Asked if he would seek another referendum if there was a "No" vote on Thursday, the SNP leader recalled the devolution referendum of 1979, which was followed by another in 1997. | |
| "That's what I mean by a political generation," he said. | |
| "This is a once in a generation, perhaps once in a lifetime, opportunity for Scotland." | |
| Mr Darling said that he had always felt "this race would go to the wire" and said large numbers of voters were "yet to make their minds up because it's that critical". | Mr Darling said that he had always felt "this race would go to the wire" and said large numbers of voters were "yet to make their minds up because it's that critical". |
| He added: "What does concern me is that five days before we go to the polling station, we still don't know the answer to basic questions." | |
| He claimed there was uncertainty over whether firms would move their headquarters out of Scotland and over how the NHS and pensions would be funded if the country became independent. | |
| The interviews came after Yes Scotland campaigners claimed their private canvassing showed "the votes are there for a 'Yes' majority". | The interviews came after Yes Scotland campaigners claimed their private canvassing showed "the votes are there for a 'Yes' majority". |
| However, Better Together said the "No" vote was "holding up", saying it would target 500,000 undecided voters. | However, Better Together said the "No" vote was "holding up", saying it would target 500,000 undecided voters. |
| Three polls have put the "No" campaign in the lead, while one has put the pro-independence "Yes" campaign ahead. | Three polls have put the "No" campaign in the lead, while one has put the pro-independence "Yes" campaign ahead. |
| The latest poll of polls collating the six most recent surveys - carried out between 9 and 12 September and excluding "don't knows" - puts the "No" campaign on 51% and the "Yes" campaign on 49%. | The latest poll of polls collating the six most recent surveys - carried out between 9 and 12 September and excluding "don't knows" - puts the "No" campaign on 51% and the "Yes" campaign on 49%. |
| 'On a knife-edge' | 'On a knife-edge' |
| The pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign has not revealed the number of people it has talked to during its private canvassing, but claimed to have achieved a higher return than ever before. | The pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign has not revealed the number of people it has talked to during its private canvassing, but claimed to have achieved a higher return than ever before. |
| Chief executive Blair Jenkins said: "We know if we work hard in the next few days, we know the votes are there for a 'Yes' majority. | Chief executive Blair Jenkins said: "We know if we work hard in the next few days, we know the votes are there for a 'Yes' majority. |
| "We know we will win, if we work really hard. The information we have would tell us that there is a 'Yes' vote there. | "We know we will win, if we work really hard. The information we have would tell us that there is a 'Yes' vote there. |
| "We have to make sure we get it out, we have to make sure we get every last vote out." | "We have to make sure we get it out, we have to make sure we get every last vote out." |
| However, Mr Darling said the "No" campaign's own canvass returns "are good and our vote is holding up". | However, Mr Darling said the "No" campaign's own canvass returns "are good and our vote is holding up". |
| Elsewhere in the campaign: | Elsewhere in the campaign: |
| Mr Darling added: "I have said since last weekend, we will win, and I know that because I can see our returns. We will win, be in no doubt about it." | Mr Darling added: "I have said since last weekend, we will win, and I know that because I can see our returns. We will win, be in no doubt about it." |
| He said the campaign would target "five key questions" on jobs, currency, pensions, prices and public services. | He said the campaign would target "five key questions" on jobs, currency, pensions, prices and public services. |
| "I believe there are five questions uppermost in the minds of the 500,000 voters we believe are still to make up their minds," Mr Darling said. | "I believe there are five questions uppermost in the minds of the 500,000 voters we believe are still to make up their minds," Mr Darling said. |
| Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall said polls showed the referendum vote was "on a knife-edge". | Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall said polls showed the referendum vote was "on a knife-edge". |
| Better Together published a poll on Saturday suggesting 53.5% opposed independence and 46.5% backed it, when undecided voters were excluded. | Better Together published a poll on Saturday suggesting 53.5% opposed independence and 46.5% backed it, when undecided voters were excluded. |
| The telephone poll, commissioned by Better Together from pollsters Survation, reached 1,044 respondents, with an effective sample size of 927. | The telephone poll, commissioned by Better Together from pollsters Survation, reached 1,044 respondents, with an effective sample size of 927. |
| Conducted between 10 and 12 September, it also pointed to a very high turnout, with 93% of voters surveyed saying they are certain to vote. | Conducted between 10 and 12 September, it also pointed to a very high turnout, with 93% of voters surveyed saying they are certain to vote. |
| Another poll for the Observer newspaper, gave the "No" campaign a six point lead - 53% to the pro-independence campaign's 47%. | Another poll for the Observer newspaper, gave the "No" campaign a six point lead - 53% to the pro-independence campaign's 47%. |
| And a new Sunday Times poll - conducted by Panelbase - puts the voters who intended to vote "No" on 50.6% while the "Yes" campaign was on 49.4%. | And a new Sunday Times poll - conducted by Panelbase - puts the voters who intended to vote "No" on 50.6% while the "Yes" campaign was on 49.4%. |
| However, an ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph has suggested Scotland could become independent, putting the "Yes" camp in the lead. Excluding undecided voters it found "Yes" to be on 54% and "No" on 46%. | However, an ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph has suggested Scotland could become independent, putting the "Yes" camp in the lead. Excluding undecided voters it found "Yes" to be on 54% and "No" on 46%. |
| The poll was carried out between 10 and 12 September and had a sample size of 705 - smaller than many of the other polls. | The poll was carried out between 10 and 12 September and had a sample size of 705 - smaller than many of the other polls. |
| A referendum on whether Scotland should become independent is to take place | A referendum on whether Scotland should become independent is to take place |
| Campaigning on the last weekend as been lively with thousands taking to the streets on Saturday to support both sides. | Campaigning on the last weekend as been lively with thousands taking to the streets on Saturday to support both sides. |
| The campaigning followed interventions in the debate by businesses raising concerns about independence, which Yes campaigners claimed was "orchestrated" by the UK government. | The campaigning followed interventions in the debate by businesses raising concerns about independence, which Yes campaigners claimed was "orchestrated" by the UK government. |
| Meanwhile, businessman John McGlynn, who founded Airlink car parks, has said he will vote "Yes" because an offer of more powers for Scotland from the No side had come too late. | Meanwhile, businessman John McGlynn, who founded Airlink car parks, has said he will vote "Yes" because an offer of more powers for Scotland from the No side had come too late. |