Scottish Referendum Is 'Too Close
To Call'
A poll puts the Yes and No campaigns in the Scottish referendum neck and neck with 41% of the vote with nine days left.
Video: A poll by TNS puts both sides on 41% of the vote
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A research agency has said the Scottish referendum outcome is "too close to call" as both sides enter the final days of the vote campaign.
TNS said the Yes and No campaigns were neck and neck with 41% ahead of the vote on September 18.
Tom Costley, head of TNS Scotland, said: "This poll reveals a remarkable shift in voting intentions but the signs were evident in our last couple of polls which indicated a narrowing of the No lead, especially amongst those who told us that they were certain to vote.
"It is too close to call and both sides will now be energised to make the most of the last few days of the campaign and try and persuade the undecided voters of the merits of their respective campaigns."
Some 600,000 people could still have to make up their minds in the referendum, with leaders attempting to win over undecided voters.
Gordon Brown attempted to wrest back the initiative for the No campaign on Monday.
The former Prime Minister is well aware that Labour supporters are increasingly anxious as the polls suggest significant numbers are being persuaded by the Yes campaign.
He told an audience of activists in Loanhead, south of Edinburgh, that far from the positive vision Yes campaigners maintain they are offering, voters should understand that the question is whether "we wish to sever all remaining political connections with our friends, neighbours and relatives in the rest of the UK".
Mr Brown's proposal of a swift timetable for the implementation of far-reaching devolutionary changes was welcomed by the Prime Minister.
But David Cameron was effectively bounced into endorsing Mr Brown's initiative, knowing that he has the ability to energise an electorate that has been resistant to his overtures.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said pro-independence campaigners have "10 days of hard work" to win the referendum.
He told STV's Scotland Tonight: "This is about people's belief in our country, whether we have the ability to run our country more successfully and more fairly than the Westminster parties.
"I think all of the evidence and all of people's experience is convincing more and more people that we have the ability to do just that.
"So it's 10 days of hard work to win this for Scotland."
The TNS poll shows backing for the Yes campaign is up from 38% last month, while support for maintaining the union has dropped from 46%.
The momentum is for now with Yes, but were that to change the pressure would suddenly become just as strong on the other side.
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