Scottish independence support slips 1 week before referendum

Supporters of keeping Scotland in the United Kingdom have clawed back a narrow lead over separatists, a YouGov poll showed just one week before Scots vote in a referendum on independence.

The YouGov survey for The Times and Sun newspapers put supporters of the union on 52 per cent, narrowly ahead of supporters of independence on 48 per cent, excluding those who said they did not know how they would vote.

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"This is the first time NO has gained ground since early August," YouGov President Peter Kellner said in a commentary. "Although NO is back in front, the YES campaign has held on to most of its gains since early August."

YouGov, one of Britain's most respected pollsters, polled 1,268 people between Sept. 9 and Sept. 11. Scots vote on Sept. 18.

YouGov's last poll at the weekend put support for YESat 51 per cent, overturning a 22-point lead for the anti-independence Better Togethercampaign in the space of a month to establish a two point lead.