Independence: Yes and No camps see fall in support

BACKING for Scottish independence slumped to 30 per cent last month, a newly published opinion poll revealed today.

Support for a Yes vote fell by three per cent on the previous month, despite a major referendum push by Alex Salmond who revealed the date for the referendum as 18 September 2014.

The results in the TNS-BMRB poll will come as a blow to Mr Salmond, who has struggled to consistently attract more than a third of the electorate to the pro-independence cause.

More than 1,000 voters were interviewed in the latest poll between 20 March and 2 April - the period immediately after Mr Salmond announced the referendum date.

Opposition to independence also fell in the poll, with the number backing a No vote dropping from 52 per cent to 51 per cent.

However, the No campaign is now 21 points ahead of the pro-independence lobby, compared to a lead of 19 points the previous month.