Scottish independence: Most Scots say 2014 Commonwealth Games have not helped Yes vote
Scottish nationalists’ hope for a post-Commonwealth Games bounce yesterday appeared to be mislaid , according to a survation/Mail on Sunday poll.
Despite a record medal haul for Scotland’s athletes, 89 per cent of respondents said that the Glasgow Games would not increase the chance of a Yes vote in the 18 September referendum.
The news comes as a blow to Alex Salmond, coming so close to tomorrow’s crucial two- hour televised debate against Alastair Darling, the head of the pro-union campaign.
The latest polling data shows the Yes campaign trailing the pro-union Better Together by about six per cent. However, nationalists are confident of closing the gap through a commanding performance from the charismatic Salmond against the more sober ex-Chancellor. Just 11 per cent of Scots expect Darling to win the debate.
The debate will be shown live from 8pm on Scottish channel STV, or on STV’s online stream.
UPDATE: The article has been modified to state that the Yes campaign is trailing the pro-union Better Together campaign by about six per cent. Originally the article stated it was trailing by 14 per cent.