Independence campaign accelerates

The campaign for Scottish independence appears to be gaining ground, according to new polls.

With five months to go before the referendum that could lead to Scotland leaving the UK, the gap between the yes and no camps has narrowed, suggesting a two-point swing could be enough to secure independence on 18 September.

An ICM poll for the Scotland on Sunday newspaper shows support for independence is at 39%, while opposition has fallen four points to 42%.

Excluding people who have not yet made up their minds, the results put yes on 48% and no on 52%.

It is the highest level of support for independence since last August, leading the Yes Scotland campaign group to claim it is confident of securing the necessary two-point swing.

The Yes Scotland chief executive, Blair Jenkins, said: "The extreme negativity of the no campaign is proving a major turn-off for voters, and month by month they are paying the price."

A second poll by Survation for the Sunday Post puts a yes vote up one point to 38% and a no vote down one point to 46%.

When the "don't knows" are stripped out, the results are 55-45 in favour of keeping Scotland in the UK.

The polls were published as it emerged Labour is planning to step up campaigning in Scotland.

Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet will hold a meeting in Glasgow on Friday, while MPs will campaign across the country over the week.

Meanwhile, the former prime minister Gordon Brown will focus on the security of pensions as he makes the case for the union during a speech for Better Together in Glasgow.

Yes Scotland is stepping up activity with the launch of a new billboard poster campaign explaining why the country "must" be independent.

Blair McDougall, director of Better Together, said his group would also launch an advertising campaign this week.

"Whilst it is welcome that there is a majority in favour of keeping the UK together, these polls are a reminder that there can be no complacency from those who believe that the brightest future for Scotland is to remain in the UK," he said.

"With the launch of our advertising campaign tomorrow and a big grassroots campaign push we will be fighting hard for every single vote between now and polling day. Everybody who wants to keep Scotland in the UK needs to play their part."

The Scottish Green party co-leader Patrick Harvie, who supports independence, said there was still work to do.

"As we get closer to the vote, more people are seeing the exciting possibilities that a yes vote opens up," he said.

"This poll reflects the mounting energy and strength of the grassroots campaign, but we will only succeed if we continue to reach out beyond traditional supporters."

Meanwhile, Scottish government agencies in charge of creating jobs and attracting tourists have become the latest to quit the business lobbying organisation the CBI after it formally backed a no vote in the referendum.

The government in Edinburgh said it would be "clearly inappropriate" for Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland to carry on their membership after the body registered with the Electoral Commission to campaign against independence.

The two agencies follow the broadcaster STV, the Balhousie Care Group and the energy company Aquamarine Power in resigning from the CBI.

A Scottish government spokesman said: "The CBI has registered as a campaign organisation for a no vote in the referendum. In these circumstances, it is clearly inappropriate for government agencies to remain in membership of CBI. We would expect any other member to follow Scottish Enterprise and resign with immediate effect."

The confederation has faced criticism that its position does not accurately reflect its members' views, and it failed to consult them before formally registering to campaign for the union.

Tony Banks, chairman of the Balhousie Care Group, said his business would now leave the confederation.

Banks, who is also chairman of the pro-independence group Business for Scotland, said: "It is abundantly clear that the CBI is not representing its members' views honestly. I am therefore writing to the director general, John Cridland, today, withdrawing my company membership." /PA/Agencies