Poll Gives Scottish 'Yes' Vote Edge; Scots Decide On Independence From The UK Thursday

Two polls released in Saturday and Sunday newspaper editions indicated Scots would vote against independence Thursday but a third poll gave the edge to separatists. An ICM poll for the Daily Telegraph gave a "yes" vote a solid majority, 54 percent to 46 percent.

A Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times gave a "no" vote the a 51 percent to 49 percent edge and an Opinium poll for the Observer gave a "no" vote a 53 percent to 47 percent margin.

The ICM poll, which was reported by the Sunday Times in advance of publication, queried just 705 people, Reuters reported. The Opinium poll queried 1,055 eligible voters. The number of people who participated in the Panelbase poll was not available.

Newspaper mogul Rupert Murdoch played coy Saturday about whether his Scottish Sun newspaper would support Scottish independence as he toured the country. Murdoch, whose paternal grandparents were Scots, said even if the unionists win the Thursday vote, Scotland will have more autonomy and the U.K. would look more like a federation, Reuters reported.

"Democracy is truly at work, both sides predicting victory," Murdoch said. Murdoch praised Scots for debating whether to vote for independence from London and said the country is "alive with debate."

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said said he hopes Scotland would remain a part of the U.K. because breaking up the nation would not be sensible, Reuters reported.

"For all the reasons given by all the party leaders of the U.K., in the 21st Century to rip up the alliance between our countries would not be sensible, politically, economically or even emotionally," Blair, who was born in Scotland, said at a security conference in Kiev, Ukraine.

Scotland has been united with England for more than three centuries.