CAMPAIGN LEADERS CLASHED over Scotland’s future in a lively final TV showdown, with the pro-independence side counting on a knock-out blow to vault a stubborn gap in the polls.

Pro-independence Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and ‘No’ campaign leader Alistair Darling faced off in Glasgow over the key issues of currency, oil reserves and the National Health Service (NHS), on the eve of the start of postal voting on Tuesday.

Almost a fifth of voters are expected to begin receiving their ballots by post ahead of the referendum day on September 18.

In his opening statement, Salmond underlined the historic nature of the decision, saying that independence would free Scotland from austerity policies and military spending.

“Absolutely no one will run the affairs of this country better than the people who live and work in Scotland… We are a rich nation and a resourceful people. We can create a rich nation and a more fair society”, Salmond said.

In return, Darling sought to sow doubt in Salmond’s vision, saying the details were not clear enough and emphasising uncertainty over what currency an independent Scotland would use, saying it would affect jobs and interest rates.

Salmond is “asking us to take his word for it on everything. No plan B for anything. Trust what he says? Sorry, I can’t,” Darling rebutted.

The pro-independence camp remains 14 points behind according to the latest YouGov poll for The Times, which said 43 percent of respondents would vote ‘Yes’ to the split compared to 57 percent who would vote ‘No’.

However, the gap between the two camps appears to have narrowed slightly in recent weeks despite Salmond being perceived to have lost a previous debate as Darling pressured him over currency.

Former British Chancellor Alistair Darling on the No side and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who is spearheading the Yes campaign. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Oil warning

A lively audience of 200 alternately cheered, applauded and jeered the two campaign leaders as they traded barbs.

Darling accused Salmond of talking “nonsense” over optimistic estimates of oil and gas revenues, and said he did not want the future of Scotland to rely on the volatile market prices for the commodities.

Salmond accused Darling, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer in a Labour government, of being “in bed with the Tories”.

The ‘No’ camp has underlined doubts over the future of North Sea oil, which would be an independent Scotland’s economic lifeblood.

Ian Wood, a well-respected and leading figure in the oil industry, last week warned that the Scottish government’s predictions for North Sea oil recovery are up to 60 percent too optimistic and that it could run out within 35 years.

© – AFP 2014

Read: Stay or go? Tempers flare in heated TV debate about Scotland’s independence

Opinion: It’s crunch time… Salmond and Darling go head-to-head over Scotland’s future