Poll Suggests Gap Is Narrowing

The gap shortens

The Yes-Yes campaign do not seem phased by the results, however. They say that 61% of those polled still favour the creation of a Scottish parliament while those against the proposals number only 21%. 16% are undecided.

On the subject of the second question, whether a Scottish assembly should have tax-varying powers or not, the gap between the Yes and No vote is tighter. 47% agree that a Scottish parliament should have tax powers but 32% are not in favour and 21% are undecided. This is the first time that the Yes vote on this question has fallen below the 50% mark.

The SNP leaderAlex Salmond was not phased by these results: "I think the poll is spot on. Our own canvassing is showing support running at 60%-40% on the second question. We were bound to see this given the week in which the poll was conducted." The poll was taken over the period August 21-26, the week in which Sir Bruce Pattullo spoke out against tax-varying powers and there was wide news coverage of the Tommy Graham/Gordon McMaster affair in Renfrewshire.

The suspension of campaigning this week out of respect for Diana, Princess of Wales, could possibly benefit the Yes-Yes campaign. The poll registers the lowest set of figures for their cause for so far. In the absence of campaigning over the next week these figures may stabilise. The referendum debate will now be concentrated into the three days immediately preceding September 11th, which leaves a lot of ground for Think Twice to make up.