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World|politics|August 18, 2014 / 10:46 AM
Scotland's voters divided on independence referendum

AKIPRESS.COM - scotland-flag Two opinion polls show that Scotland's voters are narrowly divided on whether to leave the UK one month before an independence referendum.

The both polls thus found that a majority of decided voters want Scotland to stay within the UK alongside England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But they found support for independence growing ahead of the September 15 vote and still-undecided voters holding the balance, Gulf Daily News reports.

A poll for the Scotland put support for UK membership at 47 percent, up 2 points; support for independence at 38 percent, up 4 points and undecided voters at 15 percent.

Another survey commissioned by the pro-independence campaign found 46 percent support for the UK, 42 percent for independence, and 12 percent undecided.

Debt, North Sea oil and the pound sterling are just some of the economic issues pitting Edinburgh against London.

First minister Alex Salmond insisted Scotland must receive a favorable share of common goods in the event of a divorce, providing a base for the country to build a prosperous future on its own terms.

But the leaders of Britain's three main parties – the Conservatives, Labor and the Liberal Democrats – have all warned that an independent Scotland would face economic hardship.

They have promised fresh powers for Scots if they vote to stay in the 307-year-long union.

The economy of an independent Scotland – similar size to that of Finland, Greece or Ireland – would be large enough to survive on its own.

However, the links with the rest of the UK are so strong that any breakaway is bound to involve some pain as the parliaments in London and Edinburgh thrash out the terms.

Salmond and his Scottish National Party (SNP) want a monetary union between Scotland and what would remain of the UK under the supervision of the Bank of England in a role similar to that of the European Central Bank in the euro zone.

But this plan has been categorically rejected by Westminster's three main parties.

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