SCOTTISH National Party (SNP) leaders accused pro-union campaigners of “panicking” yesterday after a poll put Yes ahead in the referendum battle.

The YouGov poll for the Sunday Times put the Yes campaign in the lead by 51 per cent to 49 per cent — although another survey by Panelbase for the Yes campaign itself had the No campaign remaining ahead by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the No campaign would be “engulfed in panic” by the YouGov poll.

“One of the really invigorating things about this campaign, and for politicians one of the challenging things, is that we have now got a well-informed population that is capable of seeing through what the politicians say and coming to their own decision,” Ms Sturgeon said.

“That’s why we see the Yes campaign ahead and why I’m confident, although it will take really hard work, we will see Yes win on September 18.”

Meanwhile Chancellor George Osborne pledged that parties campaigning for a No vote would ramp up their offer of change if Scottish voters rejected independence on Thursday 18 September.

“You will see in the next few days a plan of action to give more powers to Scotland,” he said. 

“More tax powers, more spending powers, more plans for powers over the welfare state.”

Mr Osborne said the timetable for delivering the new powers would be “put into effect the moment there is a No vote” in the referendum.

“The clock will be ticking for delivering those powers, and then Scotland will have the best of both worlds,” he added.

Better Together campaign leader and new Labour chancellor Alistair Darling said the YouGov poll was a wake-up call to anyone who thought the referendum result was a foregone conclusion.

“The polls may conflict, but the message I take from them is clear,” he said.

“If you want Scotland to remain part of the UK family you have to vote for it on 18 September. 

“Separation is forever.”