Lotto winners bankroll Scottish independence campaign

Lotto winners bankroll Scottish independence campaign

LONDON - A couple who won a record EuroMillions jackpot in 2011 are bankrolling the campaign for Scottish independence, contributing £2.5 million (US$4.2 million, three million euros, S$5.3 million) in the past year, the campaign said Sunday.

Colin and Christine Weir, from Largs near Glasgow, won 185 million euros (then $260 million) in July 2011, becoming Europe's biggest ever lottery winners.

New figures show that since April 1, 2013, the Weirs each contributed £1.25 million (1.53 million euros) to the campaign for a "Yes" vote in September's referendum, in addition to their £1 million donation the previous year.

Their contribution makes up the vast majority of the £3.15 million received by the campaign in the past year. Another 11,000 people have made donations.

"We greatly appreciate and are hugely encouraged by the thousands of people across Scotland who have made donations - both large and small - according to their financial means," Yes Scotlanad Chief Executive Blair Jenkins said in a statement.

A poll tracker devised by the Financial Times suggests the agap is narrowing between the two campaigns although the "No" camp has a nine-point lead, with 15 per cent undecided.

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