Support for Scottish independence rises dramatically in Aug: pollSeptember 2, 2014 - 13:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Support for Scottish independence rose dramatically in August, a poll showed on Monday, Sept 2, leaving the "Yes" campaign just six points behind advocates of staying in the United Kingdom with 17 days to go until a referendum, Reuters reports. The poll is the first to show a substantial shift in opinion since two television debates. Pro-independence leader Alex Salmond dominated the second debate last week, having failed to win the first one. A poll for the Sun and the Times newspapers showed support for the pro-independence "Yes" campaign had risen to 47 percent, a four point gain since mid-August and up eight points since the start of the month. The lead of the "No" campaign to reject independence has slumped to 6 points from 22 points at the start of August. Headline figures excluded undecided voters. While the figures are the same as a Survation poll last week, Survation had shown support for independence as unchanged when compared to its last poll before the first debate, and has historically shown much smaller leads for "No" than YouGov. YouGov's survey shows a closer contest than the most recent "poll of polls," on Aug. 15, based on an average of the last six polls, which found support for a breakaway was at 43 percent, against 57 percent for staying in the United Kingdom. While YouGov has previously shown stronger leads for "No" than some other pollsters, Monday's poll was the first time it has showed support for Yes above 40 percent and support for "No" below 50 percent, once undecided are included. The poll of 1,063 respondents showed 42 percent support for "Yes", 48 percent voting "No", with undecideds at a record low of 10 percent as voters make up their minds ahead of the Sept. 18 referendum. Photo: Birminghampost Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |