LONDON – Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and main opposition leaders canceled a weekly Parliamentary showdown in order to travel to Scotland, where polls show a dramatic surge in support for independence from the United Kingdom. With nine days to go before a referendum that could end Scotland’s 307-year-old union with the rest of Britain, the pro-Independence “Yes” movement has gained momentum, closing the gap on the pro-Union “No” campaign.
In an unprecedented move, Cameron and the leaders of Westminster’s two other main political parties said Tuesday they would all travel to Scotland to campaign for a “No” vote - instead of appearing at the weekly question-answer session. "There is a lot that divides us - but there's one thing on which we agree passionately: the United Kingdom is better together," the three said in a joint statement. A new poll on Tuesday found the number of people saying they would vote "No" to independence fell to 39 percent from 45 percent a month ago while "Yes" support leaped to 38 percent from 32 percent. "This poll reveals a remarkable shift," said Tom Costley, head of polling company TNS Scotland.
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