SCOTTISH National Party (SNP) leaders accused pro-union campaigners of “panicking” yesterday after a poll put Yes ahead in the referendum battle.

The YouGov poll for the Sunday Times put the Yes campaign in the lead by 51 per cent to 49 per cent — although another survey by Panelbase for the Yes campaign itself had the No campaign remaining ahead by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the No campaign would be “engulfed in panic” by the YouGov poll.