Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksBP Share News (BP.)

Share Price Information for BP (BP.)

London Stock Exchange
Share Price is delayed by 15 minutes
Get Live Data
Share Price: 510.40
Bid: 509.40
Ask: 509.50
Change: -5.40 (-1.05%)
Spread: 0.10 (0.02%)
Open: 516.30
High: 516.60
Low: 506.10
Prev. Close: 515.80
BP. Live PriceLast checked at -

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

UPDATE 3-Scots independence battle reaches fever pitch on streets and screens

Sun, 14th Sep 2014 18:05

* Thousands of "Yes" supporters in streets of Glasgow

* Salmond confident of win

* Darling warns a split will be forever (Releads with street scenes, adds queen, previous Edinburgh)

By Alistair Smout

GLASGOW, Scotland, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Thousands ofindependence supporters took to the streets of Scotland'slargest city, Glasgow, on Sunday as polls showed the rival campsrunning desperately close just five days before a referendumwhich could bring the break-up of the United Kingdom.

Separatist and unionist leaders worked across the country towoo undecided voters among the four million people Scots andScotland residents who will vote on their future on Thursday.

Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond, who hasspearheaded the drive for independence, said he was confidentthe "Yes" campaign would win.

"We're not aiming to win by one vote. We're aiming toachieve a substantial majority if we can," he said on the BBC.

Alistair Darling, a former British finance minister andleader of the "Better Together" campaign, warned that if Scotsvote to split from the United Kingdom, it would be anirreversible decision that would bring economic doom and gloom.

With promises from British political leaders of greaterpowers for Scotland in the event of a "No" vote, Scots couldhave the best of both worlds, Darling said.

And Queen Elizabeth, coming out of a Sunday morning churchservice near her Scottish residence Balmoral, told a well-wishershe hoped Scots would think very carefully about the future.

In Glasgow, the blue badges of the "Yes" to independencecampaign dominated central Buchanan Street, with a convoy ofcars driving through the downtown waving "Yes" banners andtooting horns. Buskers also sang in support of independence anda bagpipe-and-drum band drew a large crowd.

The Glasgow vote will be crucial to the result, given thecity's size.

Thousands of people marched to the BBC headquarters,complaining that the state-run broadcaster was biased againstthe "Yes" campaign.

"We pay our license fees. We don't want them to favour us -we were just marching for an impartial state broadcaster," saidLiz, a teacher.

Salmond has frequently accused the BBC - which could becarved up if Scotland votes for independece - of siding with theunionists. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation has been"rigorously impartial".

But the incident showed the high emotions and divisionsstirred by the referendum, which could result in the end of the307-year-old union with England and the break-up of the UnitedKingdom.

"No one wants to forget what we achieved together during thetwo World Wars. But where's the vision for the future?" saidIan, an IT manager from Glasgow who had been on the march.

Independence supporters say it is time for Scotland tochoose its own leaders and rule itself, free of control fromLondon and politicians they say ignore their views and needs.

"No" campaigners say Scotland is more secure and prosperousas part of the United Kingdom and the end of the union woulddestroy three centuries of bonds and shared history as well asbring in economic and financial hardship.

More than 4 million Scots as well as English and foreignresidents, from the Highands and Islands to Glasgow's grittyinner city estates, are eligible to vote. The question on theballot paper will ask simply: "Should Scotland be an independentcountry?"

Out of four new polls, three showed those in favour ofmaintaining the union with a lead of between 2 and 8 percentagepoints. But an ICM poll conducted over the Internet showedsupporters of independence in the lead with 54 percent andunionists on 46 percent.

RELOCATION PLANS

Last week, Scottish-based banks including RBS saidthey had plans to relocate should independence happen, bigretailers spoke of possible price rises north of the border andGermany's Deutsche Bank warned of economic meltdown.

Salmond has dismissed this as a London-contrived campaign ofbullying and scare-mongering. However, the pound had dropped onmarket concerns of a "Yes" victory and investors have pulledbillions out of British financial assets.

The biggest financial question is what currency anindependent Scotland would use. Salmond insists it would keepthe pound in a currency union with the rump UK, but PrimeMinister David Cameron and others have ruled this out.

Until September, all polls but one in 2013 had shown theunionists with a comfortable lead. But such is the gravity ofthe situation that finance minister George Osborne cancelled atrip to the G20 meeting in Australia after the vote. Bank ofEngland Governor Mark Carney will leave the G20 meeting early.

The Queen's comment was taken by unionists as a sign ofsupport for Scotland remaining within the United Kingdom. ABuckingham Palace source stressed that the queen wasconstitutionbally above politics and would express no view.

Salmond has said she should stay on as Queen of Scots ifindpendence happens.

Meanwhile the head of the Church of Scotland appealed forScots to put their differences aside and reconcile after thereferendum, whatever the outcome.

In a nationally-broadcast sermon at Edinburgh's St. Mary'sEpiscopal Cathedral, Reverend John Chalmers urged Scots to vote.

But he added: "The real success of next Thursday will bethat...every voice will continue to play its part in shaping thekind of Scotland that people in Scotland vote for," he said. (Additional reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Writing by AngusMacSwan, Editing by Ralph Boulton)

More News
6 Feb 2024 12:10

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: BP tops FTSE 100 index on buyback promise

(Alliance News) - The FTSE 100 was higher at midday Tuesday, despite lingering unease in equity markets on US interest rate worries, while BP led the way among London's large-caps as it announced a buyback plan.

Read more
6 Feb 2024 09:04

TOP NEWS: BP promises buybacks and hikes dividend despite profit fall

(Alliance News) - BP PLC on Tuesday reaffirmed it is sticking to its commitment to share buybacks despite reporting a profit decline amid a fall in oil prices.

Read more
6 Feb 2024 08:53

LONDON MARKET OPEN: BP jumps after unveiling share buyback

(Alliance News) - The FTSE 100 in London opened higher on Tuesday, with oil major BP at the top of the index, thanks to its new share buyback programme.

Read more
6 Feb 2024 07:47

LONDON BRIEFING: BP promises buyback despite drop in profit

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are called to open higher, ahead of a slew of construction purchasing managers' index readings from the eurozone, the UK and Germany.

Read more
6 Feb 2024 07:02

BP unveils $1.75bn buyback as 2023 profits halve on weaker oil price

(Sharecast News) - Shares in BP surged on Tuesday as the energy giant announced a $1.75bn share buyback despite a slump in annual profits as oil prices fell during 2023 from the spike caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Read more
2 Feb 2024 17:12

LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks mixed as US jobs data dashes rate cut hope

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London closed mixed, after hotter-than-expected US jobs data hit already precarious investor sentiment and all but ensured the Federal Reserve will not be cutting interest rates next month.

Read more
2 Feb 2024 13:14

BP appoints Kate Thomson as its permanent finance chief

(Sharecast News) - BP announced the appointment of Kate Thomson as its new, permanent chief financial officer on Friday, effective immediately.

Read more
2 Feb 2024 12:27

TOP NEWS: BP promotes Kate Thomson as permanent finance chief

(Alliance News) - BP PLC on Friday named Kate Thomson as its permanent chief financial officer, after being in the interim role since September.

Read more
2 Feb 2024 12:09

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Airlines up but oil falls on Middle East talks

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London were higher at midday Friday, ahead of the afternoon's US jobs data, as earnings from tech behemoths overnight lifted investor morale.

Read more
2 Feb 2024 08:54

LONDON MARKET OPEN: European stocks lifted on Wall Street's gains

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London opened higher on Friday, closing of a busy week of monetary policy decisions.

Read more
1 Feb 2024 17:03

LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks down on hawkish BoE interest rates hold

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London closed down on Thursday after the Bank of England left interest rates on hold in a split decision that was hawkish on expectations of rate cuts.

Read more
1 Feb 2024 12:22

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: BoE keeps bank rate on hold in split decision

(Alliance News) - London's FTSE 100 was on the up on Thursday afternoon after the Bank of England left interest rates on hold on Thursday, in a split decision.

Read more
1 Feb 2024 10:06

New UK oil and gas exploration licences approved in the North Sea

(Alliance News) - The UK's oil and gas regulator has awarded 24 new exploration licences to 17 separate companies in a move that has been welcomed by a trade body but condemned by climate campaigners.

Read more
1 Feb 2024 08:50

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Shells begins USD3.5 billion buyback; eyes on BoE

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London opened mixed, ahead of the Bank of England's first interest rate decision of the year.

Read more
30 Jan 2024 15:28

UK earnings, trading statements calendar - next 7 days

Wednesday 31 January 
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLCFull Year Results
abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust PLCFull Year Results
Ecora Resources PLCTrading Statement
GSK PLCFull Year Results
ITM Power PLCHalf Year Results
NWF Group PLCHalf Year Results
Thursday 1 February 
Airtel Africa PLCTrading Statement
AG Barr PLCTrading Statement
BT Group PLCTrading Statement
Cranswick PLCTrading Statement
Gem Diamonds LtdTrading Statement
Glencore PLCTrading Statement
JTC PLCTrading Statement
Rank Group PLCHalf Year Results
Shell PLCFull Year Results
TClarke PLCTrading Statement
Friday 2 February 
YouGov PLCTrading Statement
Monday 5 February 
Home REIT PLCTrading Statement
Porvair PLCFull Year Results
Trident Royalties PLCTrading Statement
Vodafone Group PLCTrading Statement
Tuesday 6 February 
Alumasc Group PLCHalf Year Results
BP PLCFull Year Results
Filtronic PLCHalf Year Results
Mattioli Woods PLCHalf Year Results
Renishaw PLCHalf Year Results
Virgin Money UK PLCTrading Statement
  
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
  
A full 21-day events calendar is provided each day with a subscription to Alliance News UK Professional.
  
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Read more

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.