Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Scottish independence: Mass rallies mark referendum climax

Both sides in the Scottish referendum campaign have held rallies as they make their final efforts to win over undecided voters.
Independence supporters attended a mass event in the centre of Glasgow, where they were urged to “vote ‘Yes’ for a prosperous Scotland”.
At the same time, pro-UK campaigners gathered nearby to insist the case for independence had not been made.
The latest polls have suggested the result is too close to call.
Polls were released by Opinium for the Daily Telegraph, another by ICM for the Scotsman and a third by Survation for the Daily Mail on Tuesday evening.
With undecided voters excluded, they all suggested a lead for “No” of 52% to 48%.
Speaking at the pro-independence rally, Yes Scotland chairman Dennis Canavan attacked the “back of a fag packet” pledge of further devolution made by the leaders of the three main Westminster parties.
He told supporters: “A vow – it looks like something written on the back of a fag packet at the fag end of a long campaign. But the people of Scotland will not be fooled.
“There is only one guarantee of getting more powers for the Scottish Parliament and that is by voting Yes, so let’s take that message out, let’s take our message out to every street, every city, every town, every village, every community, every workplace, every home in Scotland.”
Meanwhile, Better Together head Alistair Darling urged anyone who had doubts about independence to vote “No”.
Addressing supporters alongside former Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a Love Scotland, Vote No rally, he said: “If you have such a momentous decision to take, you need to have certainty.
“What is very clear at the end of this long campaign, from the nationalist side there is no certainty at all. For anyone in Scotland who has any doubt, be in no doubt – you have to say ‘No’.”
On the final day of campaigning, First Minister Alex Salmond published a letter to the people of Scotland in which he told them they will hold power in their hands as they vote to determine their country’s future.
Mr Salmond asked voters to step back from the political arguments and statistics that have defined the two-year campaign and trust in themselves as they go into the polling booth.
He said: “The talking is nearly done. The campaigns will have had their say. What’s left is just us – the people who live and work here. The only people with a vote. The people who matter.

Scottish independence: Mass rallies mark referendum climax

No comments:

Post a Comment