World

Lottery winners funding Scottish campaign

05:58 am on 12 May 2014

A couple who won a record lottery jackpot in Europe are bankrolling the campaign for Scottish independence.

A pro-independence supporter in Edinburgh. Photo: AFP (file)

Colin and Christine Weir, who live near Glasgow, won 185 million euros in 2011.

Since April last year, they have contributed £2.5 million to the campaign for a "Yes" vote in September's secession referendum; the bulk of the £3.15 million pounds it has received in donations in that time.

The couple also gave £1 million to the campaign the previous year. Another 11,000 people have made donations.

A poll by the Financial Times suggests the "No" camp has a nine point lead, with 15 percent undecided.