Bookies shorten odds on Scottish independence
Bookmakers William Hill has said it has cut their odds on a 'Yes' vote in the referendum on Scottish independence after "a small surge" of bets.
Their odds on a 'Yes' vote have been shortened from 5/1 to 9/2.
They have also shortened their odds for the country to be fully independent by March 24, 2016 from 7/1 to 13/2.
"Since the publication of the detailed plans for independence earlier in the week we have seen a small surge of support for a 'Yes' vote and trimmed our odds accordingly," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.
"However, the biggest bet struck so far during the campaign has been £200,000 of a Glasgow client on a No vote, which could return him £236,000; while the largest for 'Yes' - £5000, will return £20,000."
William Hillis offering odds of 1/7 that the Scottish people will vote 'No' next year. They are also offering 5/6 that turnout in the referendum will be 66% or more, with 5/6 that the turnout will be below 66%.
An opinion poll published on Sunday showed support for a 'Yes' vote at 38%, with 'No' on 47% and 15% 'Don't Know'.
On Tuesday the Scottish Government has published its white paper on independence.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is the most detailed blueprint that any people have ever been offered anywhere in the world as the basis for becoming an independent country.
"It puts beyond doubt that an independent Scotland would start form a position of strength, in fact, would become independent in more promising circumstances than virtually any other nation in history."
However, Alistair Darling, who leads the Better Together campaign for a 'No' vote, said the white paper was "back of envelope stuff".
"We still don’t know what currency we use if we vote to go it alone," he said.
"We don’t know who would set our mortgage rates. We don’t know by how much taxes would have to go up. We don’t know how secure our pensions and benefits would be in an independent Scotland."
