Support for Yes rises, but is it too little too late?

  • Politics
Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond in the second referendum debate earlier this week. Credit: David Cheskin/Reuters

A poll conducted after the second of the live TV debates between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling has shown a shift towards a Yes vote.

The study by Survation was carried out following Monday's clash between the leaders of the Yes and No sides. It shows support for independence rose by 4 percentage points, while support for maintaining the union fell by 3 points.

However, overall the poll found opinion has remained unchanged since the start of the month and the first of the two TV debates, with Yes at 43% and No on 57%.

The Yes campaign will latch on to that four-point rise in support, but it actually cancels out a fall after the first debate in which Mr Salmond was judged to have underperformed.

The referendum on Scottish independence will be held in less than three weeks Credit: Danny Lawson/PA

With less than three weeks to go, the Yes side is still behind and running out of time to turn it around.

This may be just one poll and certainly the only vote that matters is the one on September 18, but the pro-independence body had targeted a poll lead in the weeks leading up to referendum day.