The leader of the Better Together group came to Inverness yesterday to open a base for its Highland campaign.
Alistair Darling MP attended the launch of the pro-unionists’ campaign shop at 71 Castle Street in Inverness city centre.
About 60 pro-union supporters and activists gathered at the office, which is going to be open for 98 days until the independence referendum takes place on September 18.
Mr Darling said: “We are stepping up our campaign work. From our point of view the Highlands and islands vote is very important to us. That is why we have a full time organisation here.
“There were 250 people in a public meeting in Stornoway Town Hall last night.What was really interesting was the age range of people there. Two of the speakers at the event were 19-year-old students. There was an interest there that was not detected in 30 years of my campaigning.
“The decision on September 18 is the single biggest particular decision that every one of you will make but I think we have got the momentum. It is not negative to have to vote against a proposition and what we are saying is that Scotland can have a better future as part of the UK.”
He added: “The office here in Inverness is a point of contact. Leafleting is important and so is social media.”
There are eight Better Together regional offices across Scotland being launched as a point of contact for pro-union activists and supporters. All the offices will be fully up and running by the end of next week.
Pro-union supporter Jim Murphy, Labour MP for East Renfrewshire, is also aiming to visit 100 places in Scotland each day between now and the referendum.
He was in Barra yesterday for the start of a Highland campaign trail, and will be joined by Mr Darling at various locations in the region. The dates and locations are yet to be finalised.
Earlier this week, Mr Darling, the former Labour chancellor, called on Better Together supporters to match the emotion of the Yes camp.
He asked hundreds of activists at a rally in Glasgow’s Central Hall to get out on the streets with the message “No Thanks”.