The result represents a loss of face for the Labour Party, coming shortly after it announced an escalation of its campaign for a united Britain.

SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she welcomed the result.

“It is a humiliation for Ed Miliband,” added Ms Sturgeon, “on the same day as his latest visit to Scotland, it completely demolishes his claims to be the authentic voice of working-class, Labour-minded voters across Scotland.”

Mr Miliband was in Scotland promoting the United With Labour campaign, which will host a rally with former prime minister Giffnock-born Gordon Brown next week.

The Labour leader said his party could offer a better alternative within the union and that it would go “toe to toe” with the SNP.

“When you look at the prospectus, on tax, on energy, on the minimum wage, on redistribution, we are far, far ahead of them,” he added.

Ms Sturgeon, however, seemed unconvinced and vowed to sway further Labour supporters to the Yes vote in the last days leading to the September 18 referendum.

The SNP politician’s promise might not be so hard to accomplish after a new YouGov poll shows Labour voters increasingly leaning towards an independent Scotland.

The same survey set the odds at 53 per cent of decided voters heading for a No.

joanaramiro@peoples-press.com