The chairman of the 'In' campaign has declared it will the European Union referendum by a ”substantial margin” as a new poll showed support falling in Scotland.
Lord Rose of Monewden also called for polls to be banned in the run up to the vote.
A new TNS survey of 1,016 adults in Scotland showed that 44 per cent would back staying in the EU, down from 49 per cent in May.
One in five, 21 per cent, said they would support leaving, up from 19 per cent.
But the polls are much closer still in England, where more than 80 per cent of the UK’s population live.
Yesterday there was more bad news for the 'In' side amid reports EU leaders are unhappy with David Cameron’s reform deal.
Issues of contention are understood to include apply an 'emergency brake' to in-work benefits paid to migrants and to protect non-eurozone counties.
Mr Cameron, who yesterday held talks with a number of European at the margins of a Syria aid conference in London, needs all 28 members states to sign up before he can put the agreement to a referendum.
There were also reports that members of his own cabinet have demanded the Prime Minister stop publicly praising the benefits of the deal until it is signed off.
Pressed on the issue at a lunch with journalists in Westminster Lord Rose, a former chairman of Marks & Spencer, said: “A win’s a win. If we get the 50.001 (per cent) it is a win - I want to win, but we will win by a substantial margin.”
Lord Rose also denied he was running a ‘project fear’, the notorious nickname given to the campaign to keep Scotland in the UK.
He said: "We are not running project fear, it is project reality. We are stronger in Europe, we are more prosperous in Europe, and we are more secure in Europe. I believe that - the stats back it up."
He added that he wanted to see "some reduction" in the number of migrants coming to the UK but added: "I don't put a number on it".
Tom Costley, Head of TNS Scotland said: “With the referendum on membership of the EU looking increasingly likely to take place in 2016, people may be starting to focus on Britain’s membership of the European Union."
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