The pro-union Better Together campaign has been attacked for a new poster campaign which urges people to vote against Scottish Independence if they love their family.
The new posters, unveiled today, feature photos of families and carry slogans including: "we love our kids, we're saying no thanks", "I love my family, I'm saying no thanks" and "I love Scotland, I'm saying no thanks".
Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy leader of the SNP, mocked the "inept" campaigning of Better Together. "This is a spoof, right?" she tweeted. "For the record #ilovemyfamily and I'm voting #yes," she added.
Alistair Darling speaks at the launch of the new poster campaign
The new Better Together poster campaign was launched to mark the 18 days to go mark. Scottish residents have until midnight on Tuesday to submit their registration forms to vote in the referendum.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Darling said the adverts "speak of the decision all of us are making" as the referendum date approaches.
"We all love our country. We want what is best for our children. We want what is best for our family. Yes voters and No voters will come to different conclusions, but we all love our families," he said.
"Our case to those who are undecided is that we believe the best future, for the love of our families, for the love of our children, for the love of our country, is as a proud and prosperous part of the United Kingdom. "
A spokesperson for Yes Scotland said: "The No campaign’s new posters point to their biggest weakness and, given the revelations of the past few days, show awful timing. A No vote means leaving Scotland’s future in Westminster’s hands and there’s no way that will be anything other than bad news for families in Scotland.
"If people love the NHS, for example, it’s become very clear over the last few days that a Yes vote is the only way we can protect our health service from the knock-on effects of Westminster’s privatisation of the English NHS. And, if we want more jobs for families in Scotland, they won’t come from a No, because we now know that a No vote won’t deliver a single new job-creating power for our country."
Yes Scotland leader Blair Jenkins said last minute voters could be crucial, insisting the referendum result "is on a knife edge". But Better Together said "more and more Scots are saying no thanks" to independence.
Alistair Darling, who leads the anti-independence campaign, is also due to talk to police about security arrangements for the vote. No campaigners have expressed concerns over the potential for trouble as voters cast their ballots on September 18.
It follows a turbulent week on the campaign trail which saw Labour MP Jim Murphy suspend his tour amid claims of organised intimidation by Yes supporters.
The poster campaign did not, unsurprisingly, go down too well with supporters of the 'Yes' campaign, who vented their anger on Twitter.
In August a video emerged of former SNP MSP, Lloyd Quinan, telling an audience that people who voted against independence were "bad parents".