THE Daily Echo has been out on the campaign trail in a bid to save the Union.

With just six days to go before Scots head to the polls, Southampton MP John Denham has been campaigning in Scotland with copies of the paper.

The Daily Echo is backing the bid to save the 300-year-old Union, and has argued that independence would have serious consequences both north and south of the border.

This paper has argued that the economies of both an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK could suffer if the country breaks away.

Ahead of the referendum on Thursday, Labour Itchen MP Mr Denham is just one of many politicians who have been out on the streets of Scotland this week as the battle over the UK’s future intensifies.

He was in Glasgow and Motherwell yesterday, speaking to voters and said showing the Echo – which featured a poll showing a majority of Hampshire people want Scotland to stay in the Union – had a positive impact.

He said: “My impression is that the No vote is pretty strong.

“We’re having really good conversations with people, and one of the good things is that most people are very well-informed about the debate.

“I think it is important that people get the sense of what people in the south feel.

“It’s been useful that when people have said about us politicians coming up here at the last minute and it’s all about politics, then we can say to them ‘here is a local newspaper, distinct from party politics’.

“We can say that this is all about far more than politics, it’s about saving the Union.”

Mr Denham isn’t the only politician from Hampshire who is backing the Daily Echo’s stance on the Union.

Conservative New Forest East MP Julian Lewis said: “In terms of our world standing and the interests of the nations that make up the UK, it would be a disaster if Scotland decided to leave. This is an issue which is far in excess of ordinary politics.

“Hopefully the poll which showed the “Yes” campaign in the lead earlier in the week, will make sure people who thought the “No” vote was in the bag go out and vote.

“I can only echo David Bowie’s call when I say ‘Scotland, stay with us’.”

Daily Echo: Julian Lewis sparked the row with comments in a letter to a constituent

New Forest MP Julian Lewis

The results of a poll, released yesterday, showed the “No” campaign held a slender lead over the “Yes” campaign.

And from a population of over 5.3 million people, 4.3 million people have now registered to vote in the referendum, making it the largest electorate ever for a ballot in Scotland.

A “Yes” vote would also raise many questions about Scotland’s future relationship with the monarchy.

Some experts have said the Queen would need to appoint a governor-general in Edinburgh to act on her behalf, similar to what happens in Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Canada.

Professor Vernon Bogdanor, from King’s College, London, said: “The Queen couldn’t have two conflicting sources of advice from two different Governments.

“There would have to be a governor-general.

“It’s perfectly workable. The Irish free state had one.”