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THE prospect of another five years of David Cameron as Prime Minister would be enough to convince Scots to vote for independence, a bombshell poll reveals today.

The dramatic survey for the Daily Record shows the Yes campaign will win a majority if they can persuade voters Cameron is heading back to Downing Street in the 2015 Westminster general election.

The Survation poll of 1004 Scots also found the Yes and No camps are virtually neck-and-neck with less than 100 days to go until the historic referendum.

A total of 39 per cent plan to vote Yes on September 18, with just 44 per cent saying No.

If you remove those who have still to make up their mind that would give a wafer-thin majority to unionists, with a referendum result of 53 per cent No and 47 per cent Yes.

The figures mean there has been a tightening in the race since the last Survation poll for the Record four weeks ago. Then, 37 per cent were intending to vote Yes compared with 47 per cent backing No.

The results come in the wake of the European Parliament elections, where the success of Nigel Farage’s UKIP in England was used by many Nationalists as an argument for independence.

But the most dramatic results in the new poll came when we asked how Scots would vote if they were sure Cameron would remain PM.

Then, the figures change to 44 per cent Yes and 38 per cent No – giving a comfortable referendum victory to the nationalists, with a result of 54 per cent Yes and 46 per cent No.

The change is caused mostly by Labour supporters changing their referendum vote.

The news is a major boost for First Minister Alex Salmond, whose life-long dream of independence now seems in touching distance.

The figures will worry the No campaign, who know the Tory-led Government could be one of their biggest weaknesses in the campaign in the weeks ahead. Polling expert John Curtice said: “This should act as a warning sign to the No side that they can take nothing for granted about the result.”

The Strathclyde University professor added: “One of the things to watch over the summer is that a rise in the polls for the Tories as far as the Westminster general election is concerned could mean some Scots reconsidering their referendum vote.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband remains ahead in the race for Downing Street, with one poll published this week saying he leads the Tories by four points.

But the Yes campaign has made it one of their central arguments that a separate Scotland would never get Tory governments Scots didn’t vote for.

Salmond has also tried to capitalise on Cameron’s unpopularity north of the border by demanding he take part in a TV debate with him.

The Yes campaign was last night celebrating the best poll result they have had in several months.

Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said it confirmed their message is “getting through”.

He added: “This is the best Survation poll – the gap between Yes and No has halved since last month – and Yes now only needs a three-point swing to move ahead. The poll also highlights the strong appeal of the guarantee that Scotland always gets the government we vote for only with independence - instead of being inflicted with Tory governments.

“This independence guarantee is undoubtedly a major factor in persuading more and more Labour voters and members to vote Yes.”

Better Together chief Blair McDougall put a brave face on the results. He said: “This is yet another poll showing the campaign to keep Scotland in the UK ahead.”

But he admitted it showed “there can be no complacency from those of us who passionately believe that being part of the UK secures the brightest future for Scotland”.

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