Scottish independence: Ed Miliband raises prospect of guards along the border if Scotland votes 'Yes' in referendum

Miliband has raised the prospect of guards along the border, should Scotland go independent (Getty)

Labour leader Ed Miliband has raised the prospect of guards lining the 95-mile English-Scottish border if there is a 'Yes' result in Scotland's independence referendum.

In an interview with the Scottish Mail on Sunday, he said: “If you don't want borders, vote to stay in the United Kingdom.” Then, asked if there would need to be border guards, he added: “It would have to be looked at.” With just 12 days to go until the referendum, Labour heavyweights are urging Scottish residents to think carefully about the full implications of a 'yes' vote after the dramatic narrowing of referendum polling. Tonight, unionists were stunned to find a YouGov poll had the Scottish National Party backed campaign for independence in the lead for the first time, posting a 51 to 49 percentage advantage when undecided respondents were removed.

Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett later told the Mail on Sunday: “Were the Scots to vote 'yes' to separation, the issue of border controls and the threat of entry through Scottish ports and airports would take on serious proportions.”

A spokesman for the 'Yes Scotland' campaign said: “'There will be no border posts between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK. The No campaign will say anything to try to scare people into throwing away this unique opportunity to put our future into our own hands.”