Senior figures behind the campaign to keep Scotland part of the UK will today (Monday) insist that polls consistently show Scots are against the idea of breaking away.

Former Chancellor Alistair Darling will be joined by ex- Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie and former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy to launch the Better Together campaign in Edinburgh. It comes a month after the pro-independence Yes campaign began.

Members of the Better Together team will point to a poll taken last week as evidence that Scots want to stay in the Union – an IPSOS Mori survey indicated that 41 per cent of respondents thought that Scotland should remain in the UK, but should be given enhanced powers as defined by a devo-plus settlement.

It said fewer than 30 per cent of respondents believe Scotland should become independent.

The Better Together campaign will also use the launch to say there is too much uncertainty over the bid for independence, in particular over currency, EU membership and defence policy.