Scottish Referendum debate: Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond, Wednesday September 10th, 1.45-2.45pm

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,

We're delighted to announce that Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling will both be joining us on Mumsnet this Wednesday at 1.45pm, to take part in a live debate in the lead-up to the Scottish Referendum on September 18th.

The decision with which Scottish voters are faced this month constitutes a significant moment in the history - and future - of Scotland and the UK. And with polls currently predicting a result that's too close to call, this final showdown between the two leaders could potentially prove decisive.

The debate will be conducted along typical Mumsnet webchat lines, but with each guest free to question and respond to the answers of the other. We know the referendum has been a topic of serious discussion on the site (we're currently on IndyRef thread number seven - and counting ...) so in order to ensure that the leaders answer your questions, we're restricting the ability to post to Mumsnetters who'd been members of the site for more than 24 hours before the launch of this thread. Otherwise, the usual guidelines apply.

Please join us on Wednesday at 1.45pm - and if you can't make it then, as ever, do post up any comments or questions in advance.

@AlistairDarling

[quote Roseformeplease] What will happen to my mortgage and the value of my property in the event of independence? These vital issues affecting ordinary voters have not really been addressed. And I am not a wealthy person, but an ordinary school teacher in a Scottish state school who has had enough to worry about this year with the massive pressure of Curriculum for Excellence.

I keep being asked this question, it's obviously a big worry for families. The short answer is that it all depends on the currency we use. And we still don't know, with eight days to go. Mr Salmond's floated the daft idea of a Scottish pound. Scotland could use yen, roubles or - as Panama does - the dollar. But a separate Scottish pound would stand alone. The Governor the Bank of England told us that a currency union with indy Scotland is 'incompatible with sovereignty'. In other words you wouldn't be independent if you did it. So it will mean higher interest rates. Scotland would effectively be starting from scratch with no credit record. Currency also affects how much money we have for public services - like your school. We'd face massive cuts and huge uncertainly. We don't have to take these risks. We can keep the pound - by staying a partner in the UK, with all the strength and stability that comes with it.[/quote]

Alistair and I had this debate two weeks ago, where I outlined both the options that an independent would have and why keeping the pound was best. His admission that no one can stop us using sterling is at variance with Better Together's leaflets which make the opposite claim, which I have to assume will now be immediately withdrawn. The Governor of the Bank of England is on the record many times as saying he has not taken a position on whether or not there should be a monetary union, but will implement whatever is agreed between the politicians and therefore to cite him as a campaigner on one side is quite wrong - almost as bad as the false claims made about Her Majesty the Queen - and is a sign of nervousness at the heart of the no campaign. The point to really look at is clause 30 of the Edinburgh Agreement, signed by the Prime Minister and myself, which says that both sides will accept the results and then operate in the best interests of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The best interests of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are a common sense agreement on a common currency.

Rose, I know that the Curriculum for Excellence has been a great challenge for our teaching profession but its successful implementation and the success of the first examination diet in secondary this year is surely an example of how by common effort of teachers, pupils and parents we can make a real difference for the better from change.

Alistair Darling as usual doesn't actually answer any questions properly. I was undecided until the last week, but am now thinking yes. The Better Together Campaign just ignore any real questions.

Mr Darling what Standard Life actually said was "we could transfer parts of our business if there was a need to do so”.

AS .. Re: your answer to the currency union.

Um, I don't think it will matter that 'the majority of the people of Scotland support the common sense view'. It won't be a decision they can make. rUK get to make that decision and it might not be the one you want.

It may well be the 'best' but that doesn't mean it is a given.

And I would love to see some other questions answered that are not related to child are please.

AD .. Type faster please.

Alex Salmond - it just doesn't add up. You're admitting you're gambling across multiple levels. I am not convinced in the slightest that you have the influence to pull of an independent scotland maintaining the £. As others point out, nearly 50% of the nation is not behaind you. I believe we're in grave danger of compromising ourselves economically and I don't trust in you or the SNP to steer us through.

@RavenAlexanda

Just today Mr Darling? This was reportedly their announcement weeks ago and has been taken as more scaremongering in an attempt to force people into a No vote! I am sure your campaign advisers would have known about this before today. Please stick to the facts and stop with the scaremongering!

The statement I'm referring to was made today by Standard Life.

Thanks for clarifying that Mr Darling

Mr Darling - The Scottish population is 5.3 million.

I should not have to tell you this.

AS: Are you aware your currency plans mean the people of Scotland will no longer have savings protection as deposit insurance is not possible as per Panama model?

I'm still waiting for the answer as to just why we're "better together"? Somehow I don't think AD will answer it as I haven't been able to find any concrete examples other than "we're bigger and can share the risk" - yet there are plenty of countries of similar (and smaller) population and GDP which are successful. My Danish relatives don't understand what the issue is (and indeed are quite insulted by the implication).

I understand the "feeling British" argument - and indeed, in 1979 I would have voted No for that reason (as it was, my vote counted as a No as I was on the register but too young to vote hmm) - but not the wording "Better Together".

I've always felt Scottish - but my sense of Britishness has diminished over the years - to the extent of being ashamed of some of the things that the UK state has associated us with.

So, why are we Better Together in simple terms?

Weatherall, do you have a question?

@Crumblemum

According to independent Institute of Fiscal studies, Scotland is likely to face bigger cuts after independence if it's to balance the books. Mr Salmond, you've been running on "save public services" ticket that implies higher public spending. But you're not going to be able to raise public spending are you?

But the head of the IFS has stated that Scotland would be a prosperous country as an independent state and the calculations so beloved of Better Together depend on a fifty-year forecast of Scottish population only increasing by 4%, compared to 20% for the rest of the United Kingdom. In fact, we've managed more than that in the fifteen years since the Scottish Parliament started!

Any Scottish Government will wish to welcome people of skill from wherever they come from as well as creating opportunity for the tens of thousands of young people who currently leave Scotland each and every year. In fact, the IFS forecast gives us a glimpse into the future marked out for us by the Westminster system. I would prefer that we take responsibility to meet the demographic challenge and change Scotland for the better.

iScotland can use whatever currency it wants but it won't get a currency union.

Typical AS, focussing on "AD said we could use the pound" and not what he's really saying!

a radical expansion of childcare which carries so much support and enthusiasm and would take provision in Scotland to levels only really seen in Scandinavia

Will this extend to Scandinavian style maternity/paternity leave?

And I would love to see some other questions answered that are not related to childcare please

Yes please - I asked about how universities would be funded if there was a yes vote. I mean, in terms of not being able to access UK research funding sources. I'm undecided and I can't find the answer to this question.

I don't care if one of the 'minions' PMs me the answer later, I just want to know.

To avoid confusion, todays Standard Life statement:

www.standardlife.com/utility/customer_statement-2.html

"In view of the uncertainty around Scotland's constitutional future, we have put in place precautionary measures which would help enable us to provide customers with continuity. This includes planning for new regulated companies in England to which we could transfer parts of our business if there was a need to do so." (My emphasis

Mr Salmond and Mr Darling - Many Yes voters are not voting for SNP policies, but are voting for the chance for a more representative parliament with more Green MSPs and the emergence of other left leaning organisations like the Common Weal. How do you intend to involve these new voices in plans for constitutional change in the event of a Yes vote or more powers for Scotland in the event of a No vote?

weatherall this is a q & a - I didn't see anything in the rules about rounding and numbers of decimal places. Stop trying to score cheap points.

And to all those still going on about Standard Life - yes, the statement is written in a very neutral manner, that's how these companies phrase things, they're not radical. They will move assets and they will move jobs - that much is obvious.

If Scotland becomes independent and fails economically, will rUK be expected (forced?) to bail them out?

I'd like to see questions answered on expats, nationality, citizenship please Mr S and Mr D?

Think it might be wise to answer some more questions Mr Darling.

@GillianFortWilliam

To both panellists: How many years do you estimate it will take before an independent Scotland will have an equivalent GDP (or sense of returning prosperity if you will) as we have today? Please take into account that it has taken around 7 years from the last economic upheaval in 2007/8 to get to today's status quo. So how many years? 10? 15 to 20? More than 20? Please substantiate your answers.

Thanks for your question, Gillian. Short answer is nobody knows. And that's not a risk I'm prepared to take. The last thing we need now is years more instability and austerity. We don't need to take the risk when we can stay a partner in the UK with all the security and stability that gives us.

Eggsandham where does Mr Salmond deny this? It's hardly his fault if some nutters are taking things too far any more than it's Mr Darlings fault about the threats and verbal abuse some yes campaigners are getting.

Question for AD " can you see why all the late offers of new powers etcetera is seen here as a last ditch panic move - why wasn't Devomax on the ballot paper in your opinion"?

Respectfully, Mr Salmond, I am not an economist. I want to know if my mortgage will cost more under independence. Will it?

And the Curriculum for Excellence has been a fiasco. Teachers have put pupils first, politicians have put the referendum first. Results were massaged to make sure that there was no outcry before the referendum. It is a scandal that Scotland's once proud education system has been turned into wishy washy outcomes and nationalist propaganda (see Biology, History and English courses for details). Even the name of the qualifications "Nationals" is highly political. Shame on you. Your incompetence with education is stunning. And yet you want to run the whole economy.