Scotland 'Devo Max' Deal A Win-Win For Salmond

I told a Scottish woman, now living in London, about the YouGov poll putting the Yes campaign into the lead for the first time. In an instant her face lit up, and she yelped, "yes".

This was someone who had claimed to be unsure about which outcome she wanted - but her reaction wasn't a particular surprise.

What it underlines is a major challenge for the No campaign.

If they fail to convince people to reject independence with their policy arguments (warnings about the currency, defence and EU have been successfully dismissed as scaremongering in the minds of many) then they face an uphill battle.

The Yes campaign may prove to be a stronger draw on Scottish hearts, and that could sway a close call.

Better Together leader Alistair Darling is 'confident' of a No vpte

Yet if people north of the border were asked what they really wanted then polls suggest the answer would be neither yes or no. Instead, it would be a third option - the so-called "devo-max".

There is no exact definition of the phrase, but it essentially means enough additional devolution to allow Scotland control of many of its own affairs - including a big increase in tax and spending powers - within the UK.

David Cameron may now be regretting his decision to keep that option off the ballot paper.

The Prime Minister probably believed that his safest chance of winning was a straight yes-no battle, but now he is facing the possibility that his hefty gamble might backfire, and badly.

In a scramble to work out just what went wrong, the No campaign is trying to focus minds on the offers - from all three parties - for more devolution for Scotland.

A YouGov poll suggests 51% are for independence compared to 49% against

The Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems have all put forward a devolution offer to Scottish voters that will be part of their manifestos.

This week they will announce the timetable for that process in a bid to persuade sceptical Scots that it is really going to happen.

The nationalists say that it is too little, too late. But still, arguably a form of devo max is very much on the table for those who vote no.

And that leaves SNP leader Alex Salmond in a win-win situation.

This is a man who described devo-max as a "very attractive" idea back in 2012.

If Scotland votes yes he will have confounded expectations.

Additional devolution would give Scotland more powers, while part of the UK

Even if he comes close it will be an impressive feat.

And what will he be left with?

A Scotland with more of its own powers and looser ties to Westminster. A Scotland that has more ability to raise taxes and spend money.

But a Scotland that is also united to England, Wales and Northern Ireland through a secure currency, shared defence and a Queen.

It might not be Mr Salmond's ultimate dream of all-out independence but it doesn't sound all that far from where he has said he would like to be.

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