Final weekend of Scotland vote campaigning

Both sides of the Scottish independence debate are making their latest push for votes as the final weekend of campaigning takes place. 

Yes Scotland said today would be the biggest day of national campaigning ever seen in the country.

2.6 million leaflets are being delivered to households in the space of 48 hours.

For the No camp, Labour big-hitters former prime minister Gordon Brown and shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran have been addressing voters in the east of the country.

Elsewhere, the Orange Order are holding a "Proud to be British" rally in Edinburgh in support of the Union, with organisers expecting more than 10,000 people to attend.

The weekend push for support at the ballot box comes after a leading bank warned that the financial and economic arguments against independence.

It claimed they are "overwhelming" and compared a Yes vote to the mistakes which led to the Great Depression.

The chief economist at Deutsche Bank, David Folkerts-Landau, said voters and politicians had failed to grasp the potential severity of the negative consequences of independence.

The Scottish Government accused him of failing to take into account Scotland's "strong fiscal position".

It said it would start life as an independent nation "from stronger economic foundations than any other nation in history".

Today, the Deputy First Minister urged people to "believe in themselves and in Scotland" by voting Yes and not letting what she termed the opportunity of a lifetime pass them by.

Overall, the Yes side expect to have more than 35,000 volunteers on the streets of Scotland this weekend, manning 473 registered street stalls.

In the Scottish capital, the Orange Order are holding a rally to demonstrate its commitment to Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom.

Organisers said they believe that the Union has been good for Scotland and that independence will have "catastrophic social and economic consequences".

Henry Dunbar, grand master of the Orange Order in Scotland, is expected to tell marchers: "The No campaign has been criticised for not showing enough passion for the Union - well look out, here comes some passion.

"We are the Orangemen and women of Scotland and we are passionate about our Queen and country.

"The Union is stable, strong, tolerant and prosperous - to destroy it would be unforgivable.

"Together we have created a country that is the envy of the world. Unity is strength, and the best way of securing our future is for Scotland to remain an active and enthusiastic member of the most successful political union in history."

The parade route is taking in the Meadows, George IV Bridge, the Royal Mile and terminate near Abbeyhill.

Elsewhere in the country, political figures such as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, party veteran Baroness Shirley Williams and Scottish Labour's deputy leader Anas Sarwar will be among those promoting the No campaign's pro-UK message.

First Minister Alex Salmond has said it would be a "day of celebration" if Scotland votes Yes and not a "day of reckoning" for the big companies drawn into the debate as claimed by a former SNP deputy leader.

Jim Sillars, widower of nationalist Margo MacDonald, drew criticism after he said there would be "a day of reckoning with BP and the banks" if Scotland's people vote Yes.

But today Alex Salmond said: "The day after a Yes vote there will cease to be a No campaign and Yes campaign - only Team Scotland.

Mr Sillars comments came after a string of warnings from big banks and BP over independence.

He had said: "'This referendum is about power, and when we get a Yes majority we will use that power for a day of reckoning with BP and the banks.

Elsewhere, private canvassing data collected by the campaign for Scottish independence shows a majority for a Yes vote, its chief executive has revealed.

Yes Scotland has been feeding information from an "unprecedented" 25,000 canvass returns a day into its "Yesmo" data collection and management system.

Chief executive Blair Jenkins insisted he was not taking victory for granted, but said: "On everything I know, I think we've got a Yes vote."

The campaign, which has more than doubled its canvassing activity in the last week, is keeping details of the number of people it has talked to secret, but claims to have achieved a higher return than ever before.

Mr Jenkins said: "We know if we work hard in the next few days, we know the votes are there for a Yes majority. We know we will win, if we work really hard.

"The information we have would tell us that there is a Yes vote there. We have to make sure we get it out, we have to make sure we get every last vote out."

He added: "I think we will win if everyone who has told us they are voting Yes votes Yes."

The campaign believes that interventions into the debate made this week by banks such as RBS and large companies such as John Lewis has only hardened support.

The campaign is embarking on a massive direct mail to 1.2 million pensioners in an attempt to reach the entire demographic in Scotland.

The appeal to older generations coincides with a statement by former SNP president, MP, MSP and MEP Winnie Ewing.

The 85-year-old said: "I've waited all my life for a meaningful vote and this is a meaningful vote for every older person.

An open letter has also been signed by 133 past and present Labour members calling for a Yes vote.

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