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The Yes campaign has taken the lead ahead of the Scottish Referendum, according to the results of a new poll.
The YouGov survey commissioned by the Sunday Times suggests the Yes campaign now leads by 51% to 49%.
It means the Yes campaign has overturned a 22-point lead for the Better Together campaign within the past month.
The lead is the first for the independence camp registered by YouGov - or by any polling company - since regular polling began in the run-up to the vote.
The results are the latest evidence of a dramatic surge for the Yes camp
Sky's Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge said the poll is a wake-up call for the No campaign.
"If Westminster was complacent about what was going to happen in the Scottish referendum, it's been shocked very rudely out of that relaxation with this poll," she said.
"Only months ago the No campaign was enjoying double-digit leads. Well, there has been this shortening showing in the polls and this ... is the first time that Yes has nosed ahead."
Opposing supporters carry banners in East Kilbride, Scotland
Responding to the poll, Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the results as "exceptionally positive" but added that the Yes campaign "still has a lot of work to do to win".
Better Together leader Alistair Darling said: "The polls may conflict, but the message I take from them is clear.
"If you want Scotland to remain part of the UK family you have to vote for it on 18 September.
"Separation is forever. These polls can and must now serve as a wake-up call to anyone who thought the referendum result was a foregone conclusion.
"It never was. It will go down to the wire. Now is the time to speak up and speak out."
The results came as Gordon Brown made another appeal for a successful No vote.
In an article for the Sunday Mirror, the former Prime Minister described the union as a "living partnership".
The YouGov poll was commissioned by the Sunday Times
"Our union is not out of date or an anachronism or a museum piece but a unique, unparalleled, multinational living partnership that Europe and America cannot match or mirror," he wrote.
"And what our ancestors built up, no nationalist should be allowed to split asunder."
Mr Brown said the referendum battle had been tougher than many people expected, adding that he believed Conservative policies were to blame.
"Why has it been difficult to win Scottish votes in support of this principle of sharing that most Scots hold dear?" he wrote.
"Many are angry that the Bedroom Tax was imposed upon Scots against their will while at the same time the very wealthy received tax cuts.
Voters will decide on independence in the referendum on September 18
"The SNP also claim that the ramifications of any Tory privatisation of the NHS in England will cut budgets in Scotland.
"But English and Welsh people have already given an answer to the SNP claims.
"The answer is that 90% of English people want to keep the NHS public and retain it free at the point of need.
"And the vast majority across the whole UK dislike the Bedroom Tax and would even consider more taxes to make our NHS better."
Mr Brown will appear on Sky's Murnaghan programme from 10am on Sunday
Scottish Referendum: Yes Campaign Takes Lead
Looks like the Scots will be going their own way
and the Queen must be like .........
The YouGov survey commissioned by the Sunday Times suggests the Yes campaign now leads by 51% to 49%.
It means the Yes campaign has overturned a 22-point lead for the Better Together campaign within the past month.
The lead is the first for the independence camp registered by YouGov - or by any polling company - since regular polling began in the run-up to the vote.
The results are the latest evidence of a dramatic surge for the Yes camp
Sky's Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge said the poll is a wake-up call for the No campaign.
"If Westminster was complacent about what was going to happen in the Scottish referendum, it's been shocked very rudely out of that relaxation with this poll," she said.
"Only months ago the No campaign was enjoying double-digit leads. Well, there has been this shortening showing in the polls and this ... is the first time that Yes has nosed ahead."
Opposing supporters carry banners in East Kilbride, Scotland
Responding to the poll, Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the results as "exceptionally positive" but added that the Yes campaign "still has a lot of work to do to win".
Better Together leader Alistair Darling said: "The polls may conflict, but the message I take from them is clear.
"If you want Scotland to remain part of the UK family you have to vote for it on 18 September.
"Separation is forever. These polls can and must now serve as a wake-up call to anyone who thought the referendum result was a foregone conclusion.
"It never was. It will go down to the wire. Now is the time to speak up and speak out."
The results came as Gordon Brown made another appeal for a successful No vote.
In an article for the Sunday Mirror, the former Prime Minister described the union as a "living partnership".
The YouGov poll was commissioned by the Sunday Times
"Our union is not out of date or an anachronism or a museum piece but a unique, unparalleled, multinational living partnership that Europe and America cannot match or mirror," he wrote.
"And what our ancestors built up, no nationalist should be allowed to split asunder."
Mr Brown said the referendum battle had been tougher than many people expected, adding that he believed Conservative policies were to blame.
"Why has it been difficult to win Scottish votes in support of this principle of sharing that most Scots hold dear?" he wrote.
"Many are angry that the Bedroom Tax was imposed upon Scots against their will while at the same time the very wealthy received tax cuts.
Voters will decide on independence in the referendum on September 18
"The SNP also claim that the ramifications of any Tory privatisation of the NHS in England will cut budgets in Scotland.
"But English and Welsh people have already given an answer to the SNP claims.
"The answer is that 90% of English people want to keep the NHS public and retain it free at the point of need.
"And the vast majority across the whole UK dislike the Bedroom Tax and would even consider more taxes to make our NHS better."
Mr Brown will appear on Sky's Murnaghan programme from 10am on Sunday
Scottish Referendum: Yes Campaign Takes Lead
Looks like the Scots will be going their own way
and the Queen must be like .........
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