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.<br/> <br />First Minister Alex Salmond of the pro-independence Scottish National Party announced the date on Thursday.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTLAND'S FIRST MINISTER, ALEX SALMOND, SAYING:<br/> <br />"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."<br/> <br />But others are less optimistic, with opinion polls putting support for independence at just 30 percent.<br/> <br />Denise Playfair from the Kelso Chamber of Trade says the move would be bad for Scotland's ailing economy.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) DENISE PLAYFAIR, KELSO CHAMBER OF TRADE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I would have concerns about rocking the boat too much just now, when times are quite hard for many businesses."<br/> <br />The Scottish Labour Party is amongst those ca
