Emotions run high as Scotland independence polls show a close vote

One week from today, Scots will head to the polls to vote on becoming an independent country.

On Sunday, the first poll showing that yes voters were ahead was released. It put the Yes campaign at 51 percent and the No campaign at 49 percent — a six-point drop for the No campaign.

On Wednesday, a Daily Record poll showed the No campaign six points ahead again. It put the no votes at 53 percent and the yes votes at 47 percent.

With such contradictory polls so close to the vote, emotions are running high as the reality of Scotland’s possible independence settles in.

Prime Minister David Cameron cleared his schedule and headed straight to Scotland to plead with voters.

“The United Kingdom is a precious and special country,” Mr Cameron said. “That is what is at stake — so let no one in Scotland be in any doubt: We desperately want you to stay; we do not want this family of nations to be ripped apart.”

Ed Milliband, who leads the Labour Party and Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, also went to Scotland to campaign for a “no” vote.

They also tried to rally England to ask Scotland to stay. Ed Milliband asked townhalls around the country to take down the UK flag and fly Scotland’s St. Andrew’s cross instead.
Miliband said: “Over the next few days we want cities, towns and villages across the UK to send a message to Scotland: stay with us. We want to see the saltire flying above buildings all across our country.”

Unfortunately, while trying to fly the Scottish flag above 10 Downing Street (the Prime Minister’s office), it repeatedly fell down from the flagpole.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also headed to the front lines. From Scotland himself and a relatively popular leader in the area, Brown was a logical choice to travel the country imploring voters to say no. He took the stage at the Scottish Parliament Thursday morning and ended his speech with a passionate plea:

“When the future of the world depends on more cooperation and more sharing, more solidarity – not less – do we really want to break every single link with the rest of the UK?” said Brown.
The Yes campaign is no less impassioned and even using the UK leaders’ “emergency” visit as a tactic to vote yes for independence.

Imagine a country where our national leaders don’t make ‘emergency’ visits #VoteYes #indyref pic.twitter.com/E9rcAOOybP

— Yes Scotland (@YesScotland) September 11, 2014

Alan Cumming, the actor known for ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘X-Men’, return to his native Scotland to show his support for independence.

“It’s an historic moment for us all, we now have a chance in this country to have to have our destiny in our hands,” Cumming told The Scotsman newspaper. “I feel so good. I’ve always felt the longer the campaign goes on, the more likely it it’s going to be a Yes victory.”

The Queen has yet to weigh in, but the Yes campaign insists she will remain the head of state of an independent Scotland. Amid the announcement of the upcoming royal baby, Prince William urged people to stay focused on “the big international and domestic things” happening at the moment.

Still confused about the vote? PBS NewsHour has your cheat sheet.