Scots Independence vote date announced

September 18, 2014 - the date set for an historic referendum in Scotland on whether this country of five million people should leave the United Kingdom.

First Minister Alex Salmond of the pro-independence Scottish National Party announced the date on Thursday.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTLAND'S FIRST MINISTER, ALEX SALMOND, SAYING:

"It will be a date with destiny for Scotland, it's our date in history, our opportunity to vote ourselves into independence, to have a prosperous country, but also a fair society."

But others are less optimistic, with opinion polls putting support for independence at just 30 percent.

Denise Playfair from the Kelso Chamber of Trade says the move would be bad for Scotland's ailing economy.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DENISE PLAYFAIR, KELSO CHAMBER OF TRADE, SAYING:

"I would have concerns about rocking the boat too much just now, when times are quite hard for many businesses."

The Scottish Labour Party is amongst those ca