THE Commonwealth Games has not affected how the majority of Scots are likely to vote in next month’s independence referendum, according to a new poll published yesterday.

More than 80 per cent of those questioned said Glasgow 2014 has made no difference to how they would vote.

Only 12 per cent said Glasgow 2014 has made them more inclined to vote Yes — but four-fifths of that number said they were planning to vote for Scottish independence in the first place.

Blair McDougall, director of pro-union campaign Better Together, said: “The Commonwealth Games were great for Glasgow and we all enjoyed cheering on Team Scotland to success. But the Games had nothing to do with the referendum, which will be decided by the big issues like the economy.”

Yes campaigners are now looking towards tomorrow’s live STV debate between First Minister Alex Salmond and Better Together leader Alistair Darling for a boost.

A spokesman for the SNP government said the TV debate would be a “fantastic opportunity for the Yes campaign’s positive message to reach every home in Scotland.”

The Survation poll suggests that more people expect MrSalmond to win the TV debate — he was backed by 37 per cent of voters to come out on top, with just one in 10 predicting Mr Darling would triumph.

But Mr McDougall said the pressure was all on the First Minister: “Salmond needs a game-changer rather than us. In that sense the pressure is on him.”

Political analyst Professor John Curtice agreed: “All Darling has to do is play a straight bat and make sure he doesn’t lose. Salmond needs to win.”

The poll, conducted between July 30 and August 1, found that 40 per cent would vote Yes and 46 per cent would vote No, with 14 per cent undecided.

When undecided voters are removed, the survey put support for staying in Britain at 53 per cent, with 47 per cent backing independence.

Prof Curtice said it had “not proved that easy to move the polls” for the Yes campaign.