Scotland's national flag flew over 10 Downing Street and the leaders of Britain's three main political parties headed north of the border as part of a charm offensive to head off a possible Yes vote in next week's independence referendum.
Conservative prime minister David Cameron, the Liberal Democrats' Nick Clegg and Labour Opposition Leader Ed Miliband all said they would travel to Scotland after the latest opinion poll showed falling support for staying in the union.
The TNS poll, released ahead of the September 18 referendum, showed the number of people who said they would vote No to independence dropped to 39 per cent, down from 45 per cent one month ago.
Yes support was slightly behind at 38 per cent but had made a dramatic surge from 32 per cent a month ago.
Mr Cameron pledged to do everything he could to keep the United Kingdom together and said he would head north to Scotland to join the fray.
"I will do everything I can," he told the BBC.
"The right place to be isn't in Westminster at prime minister's Questions; it's being in Scotland listening to people, talking to people.
"In the end, it is for the Scottish people to decide, but I want them to know that the rest of the United Kingdom – and I speak as prime minister – want them to stay."
Nationalist leader Alex Salmond said in Edinburgh that the TNS poll showed the campaign opposing independence had "fallen apart at the seams".
"I think this is a very significant day in the referendum campaign," he told reporters.
At the weekend the Sunday Times published a poll that put the pro-independence camp slightly ahead for the first time this year, prompting a fall in the pound and British shares.
On Tuesday Scotland's blue and white saltire was run up the flagpole over Mr Cameron's office and will stay there until the referendum.
Britain's main political parties also scrambled to shore up the 307-year union by pledging more autonomy to Scotland, with former British prime minister Gordon Brown, a Scot, making an impassioned appeal to Labour Party supporters in central Scotland in support of staying together.
Mr Brown said discussions over further powers would begin the day after a No vote, with legislation to give the Scottish parliament more power over welfare, finance, social and economic policy put before the UK parliament by January 2015.
While the British political parties mobilised, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth would be staying out of the debate.
The clarification came after reports in the British media that the Queen was concerned about a possible break-up of the United Kingdom, and that Mr Cameron was under pressure to ask the monarch to intervene.
"The sovereign's constitutional impartiality is an established principle of our democracy and one which the Queen has demonstrated throughout her reign. As such the monarch is above politics and those in political office have a duty to ensure this remains the case," a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said.
"Any suggestion that the Queen would wish to influence the outcome of the current referendum campaign is categorically wrong. Her Majesty is simply of the view this is a matter for the people of Scotland."
In a renewed blow to nationalist hopes of keeping the pound sterling, Bank of England governor Mark Carney said a currency union between an independent Scotland and the remainder of the UK would be incompatible with sovereignty.
Britain's three main political parties have already ruled out a currency union with an independent Scotland, raising questions over what money Scots would use.
A split would also have huge ramifications beyond Scotland's borders, given Britain's current status as an economic, diplomatic and military power, a leading NATO and EU country, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Whether an independent Scotland would be allowed to remain a member of the European Union, as the independence movement wishes, has been a huge bone of contention.
Several prominent European politicians said it would be impossible and Spain, which fears Scottish independence would give a boost to separatist movements in the Basque region and Catalonia, is deeply opposed.
But a former president of the European parliament, Ireland's Pat Cox, said in the Scotsman newspaper that the EU was unlikely to send Scotland to the back of the queue for membership - not least because that would cause "chaos" in the fisheries sector if Scotland, with rich maritime resources, was expelled.
"It has always respected the expressed democratic will of the peoples involved," Mr Cox said.
If Scots vote for independence, Britain and Scotland would face 18 months of talks on how to carve up everything from North Sea oil and the pound to European Union membership and Britain's main nuclear submarine base at Faslane.
Proponents of independence say it is time for Scotland to run its own affairs and choose its own leaders rather than be ruled from London. They claim an independent Scotland could use its North Sea oil revenue to create a prosperous and fairer society.
Advocates of staying in the union say the country is stronger as part of a bigger entity and that going it alone would put it in a precarious economic position.
Independence supporter Andrew Anderson, a 52-year-old human rights worker, said at a rally that he was optimistic of victory.
"I think the polls are behind the movement on the ground and are just catching up. There's definitely a mood swing," he said.
"We don't get the government we vote for and it's time we did. Small countries can be successful, create jobs and have a good economy. Look at the Danes and the Finns and all those places doing well.
"I don't need to be ruled by David Cameron to be friends with people in England."
David Black, a writer and historian, said he had been ready to vote No but changed his mind in February after British finance minister George Osborne "threatened to sabotage the economy" if Scotland voted Yes.
"He lost a lot people in the middle there," Mr Black said.
If the Yes vote succeeds, independence has been pencilled in for March 24, 2016.
Photo: Workers prepare to count referendum votes in a counting centre in Aberdeen. (Reuters: Dylan Martinez) 
Photo: An election official counts referendum votes in a counting centre at Ingliston in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Election officials begin counting referendum votes in a counting centre at Ingliston in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Ballot boxes arrive at the counting centre at Ingliston in Edinburgh. (Getty Images: Jeff J Mitchell) 
Photo: Ryan Randall plays his flame-throwing bagpipes outside a polling station in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Poll clerk George MacKay sits in the Coulags caravan polling station in the Scottish Highlands. (Reuters: Cathal McNaughton) 
Photo: Voters enter a polling station in Pitlochry to place their votes during the referendum. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: A pro-union campaigner distributes leaflets as voters arrive to vote at a polling station in Glasgow. (AFP: Ian Macnicol) 
Photo: Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond leaves a polling station in Strichen after casting his vote during the referendum on Scottish independence, September 18, 2014. (Reuters: Dylan Martinez) 
Photo: People leave a polling station after placing their votes in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: A young voter leaves a polling station after casting her vote in Edinburgh. (AFP: Leon Neal) 
Photo: A man wears pro-independence stickers on his glasses in central Glasgow. The Yes vote has been moving ahead on Facebook as the vote draws nearer. (AFP: Leon Neal) 
Photo: A worker carries ballot boxes to a delivery van in Edinburgh the day before the referendum. (AFP: Ben Stansall) 
Photo: First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, gives the thumbs up as he flies past the Wallace Monument in Stirling. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: A 'no' vote supporter in Edinburgh, Scotland, holds a sticker depicting an image of Queen Elizabeth II. (AFP: Ben Stansall) 
Photo: Opposing yes and no signs sit in windows in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: A 'Yes' supporter with a tattoo of Scotland on his back holds a Saltire at a rally outside the BBC in Glasgow. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Thousands of members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland have marched to oppose independence. (AFP: Ben Stans) 
Photo: A pro-independence Scottish supporter flashes the V for victory sign in Edinburgh. (AFP: Lesley Martin) 
Photo: Alistair Darling, the leader of the campaign to keep Scotland part of the United Kingdom, campaigns in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: British Prime Minister David Cameron gestures as he speaks during a visit to Scottish Widows offices in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 10, 2014. Mr Cameron urged Scottish voters not to rip apart a 'family of nations' as he joined British party leaders in Scotland to try to head off surging support for a split. (AFP: Andrew Milligan/Pool) 
Photo: A Scottish Saltire is raised over 10 Downing Street in London. (Reuters: Luke MacGregor) 
Photo: Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond (front C) stands with supporters of the 'Yes Campaign' in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: Members of English Scots for Yes hold a tea party on the border at Berwick Upon Tweed to celebrate the continuing open border between Scotland and England. (Getty Images: Jeff J Mitchell) 
Photo: Opposing supporters for the Yes and No campaigns argue in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: Scottish pro-independence supporters march through Edinburgh. (AFP: Andy Buchanan) 
Photo: A dog wears a pro-Scottish independence badge on its leash. (ABC News: Gary Kemble) 
Photo: Labour MP Jim Murphy addresses a crowd in Edinburgh during his tour to promote the case for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: A girl with her face painted with the Scottish Saltire looks on as pro-independence supporters gather for a rally in Edinburgh. (AFP: Andy Buchanan) 
Photo: The Daily Mirror headline on the poll results and the British government's new proposals. (The Daily Mirror) 
Photo: A man declares his intentions as he stands outside the entrance to Edinburgh Castle. (Reuters: David Moir, file photo) 
Photo: LtoR Scottish Labour Party leader Johann Lamont, former British finance minister Alistair Darling, Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie pose for photos at launch of Campaign against Independence. (AFP: Andy Buchanan) Gallery: Scotland decidesABC/wires
Topics: world-politics, scotland, united-kingdom First posted September 10, 2014 00:59:54View the original article here
