EDINBURGH, Scotland, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- For the first time since polling began on an upcoming independence referendum, more Scottish people are in favor of independence from Britain than not.
The poll, conducted Aug. 28 through Sept. 1, indicates 51 percent of respondents said they would vote "yes" on the Sept. 18 referendum for independence, while 49 percent of people said they would vote "no."
The results of this most recent YouGov/The Sunday Times poll marks a swift change in momentum in favor of the "yes" campaign.
In mid-August, 61 percent of respondents called for staying in Britain, while 39 percent sought independence.
The most recent poll also marks a four-point uptick in support for the "yes" campaign over a poll conducted last week.
Meanwhile, British officials said that should Scotland vote "no" on the referendum, the government plans to implement a program to give Edinburgh more control over taxes, public spending and social policy.
"It's clear that Scotland wants more control over the decisions that affect Scotland," Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told the BBC. "The timetable for delivering that will be put into effect the moment there is a 'no' vote in the referendum. Then Scotland will have the best of both worlds. They will both avoid the risks of separation but have more control over their own destiny, which is where I think many Scots want to be."
