Punter stakes £200,000 on a ‘No’ vote to independence

A gambler has staked £200,000 in a Glasgow bookies that Scottish independence will be rejected in the referendum next year.

Bookies William Hill said the bet the largest political gamble it has taken would make a total profit of £36,666 if there is a No vote in September 2014.

“The man, in his late fifties, with a Scottish accent, and a stranger to staff, struck one bet of £30,000 at odds of 1-5, then returned to place another, of £70,000, at the same odds before placing a third, of £100,000, at odds by now shortened to 1-6.”

The gambler has only wasted his money, an SNP spokesman said.

“This underlines that a No vote is the real gamble with Scotland’s future because it means more Tory governments the people of Scotland didn’t vote for, more Westminster austerity and welfare cuts, and 50 more years of Trident nuclear weapons dumped on the Clyde,” the party spokesman said.

“It’s a shame this person has just wasted such a large amount of money hopefully he can afford to lose it, because we are extremely confident it’s going to be a Yes.”