Scottish Independence Poll: 'Yes' Voters would U-turn if Independence Costs them £500 a Year

ScotCen Social Research has found that while Scottish people are most likely to vote for independence in the referendum, a bulk of them will automatically switch to a 'No vote' should independence mean they have half a thousand pounds less in their pockets each year.

According to the research institute's latest survey, which interviewed 1,497 adults between June and October, 52% of people support independence.

However, 30% of these people would switch to opposing independence if they thought they would be £500 a year worse off under the 'Yes vote'.

Scottish people will vote in an independence referendum in September this year and will be asked the straight "yes/no" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

While a number of polls have shown that independence supporters are marginally in the lead of the opposition, many voters are still eager to hear about the exact economic impact they will face should the country breakaway from the rest of Britain.

"The referendum campaign is at risk of short-changing the people of Scotland," said Professor John Curtice, who was a consultant on the survey and report.

"So far it appears to have done little to help them be clear and confident about the decision they have to make.

"Many of the issues that preoccupy those campaigning for and against independence are apparently of peripheral interest to voters.

"Voters want to hear about the economic and financial consequences of the choice that they make, and it is on the outcome of that debate that the result of the referendum is likely to turn."

On 19 February, former UK chancellor Alistair Darling and a raft of heavyweight politicians will give evidence over the potential impact independence will have on the country's economy should Scotland decide to break away from the UK.

Danny Alexander, Scotland's deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, and finance minister John Swinney will also tell the panel about how they see independence impacting the Scottish economy, should voters opt to leave the UK in September 2014.