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.

However it is not in Alex Salmond's gift. Instead this is in Mr Carney's gift. Mr Carney of the Bank of England.

No, it is not. An independent Scotland would be leaving the UK. The BoE is a UK institution - it has no responsibility to provide financial stability to an independent Scotland

It is not him and him only who makes the decision, assuming you are referring to a currency union. That is a political decision - it's not within the remit of the BoE to take the UK in to a currency union.

Green I just think it is interesting because I have so often seen an opinion followed by FACT

And why is it distorted that we aren't saying where we live - this is online discussion not official polling. I don't recognise your name but if you've been on the many threads we've had (they move fast so I may not have seen you, I do tend to remember those I see often though) you'd know that quite a few Yes and No MNers have indicated roughly where we live. I don't see why I need to put it in every post.

Green*
"The EU will accept Scotland as they are on record as being a body that enables and empowers self determination"
No they are not, the EU is an entity that wishes to incorporate independent nations into a pan European federal state. An independent Scotland as a member of the EU will have even less influence and control over it's own affairs than it does now .
Real independence means leaving the UK and leaving the EU. Salmond knows this, he just hasn't got the balls to say it.

StatisticallyChallenged
OK lets start with the present - Scotland is currently part of the UK, upon the decison of the Scottish elecorate on the 18th Sep. It will remain a part of the the UK until a date agreed by all parties is announced in the event of a YES vote. Until that date currentl 24 Mar 2016 the BoE sets the rules on interest rate for Scotland as well as the Rump (rUK). It is a known fact that Mr Carney has resisted increasing interest rates but has already stated plans to do just that when certain conditions are met. These will be political conditions set by the UK Government. Therefore until indy date is agreed BoE continues to provide financial stability to an independent Scotland

The future - Due to the relative stability offered by the continuing oversight from BoE - it is extremely likely that all political parties will agree to the proposed currency union or face being left to pay ALL of the acquired UK debt. Scotland leaves to start a new chapter while Westminster humps the Rump

Green*
If the UK had wanted to be part of a CU we would be using the Euro by now.
Salmonds threat to abandon our debt is unenforceable. In the event of independence we will be relying on the UK to collect our taxes and give us the money back. rUK will control our finances and Salmond is trying to negotiate by threat.He is desperate.

Yes, Until independence. You were talking about financial stability in indy scotland in your earlier post. Until March 2016 that doesn't exist. So my response stands, providing financial stability in an Independent Scotland is not Mark Carney's problem. Salmond assumed he could have a currency union.

rUK public against currency union. All major parties against currency union.
Moody's have stated that a currency union would be a credit rating negative event for rUK. Credit Suisse have opined that in order to agree to a CU rUK would demand a very strict union with terms likely to include Scotland having a positive budgetary surplus.

BoE is already having to guarantee all of the debt anyway.

Green*
"It has been proven, beyond any doubt, that the referendum bias is solely the product of mainstream media namely BBC"

Please provide evidence of the proof, otherwisw I might be tempted to think that you are a chancer and just making it up as you go along. Are you Salmond in disguise?

OOAOML
why is it distorted that we aren't saying where we live - this is online discussion not official polling

Its distorted because if you reside outside Scotland you don't get to make your mark, therefore your opinion is somewhat irrelevant regardless how well its made. Do you offer opinion on the Catalonian referendum? if not why not.

redbinneo two separate sources with just a couple of mouse clicks

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.opendemocracy.net%2Fourkingdom%2Fjohn-robertson-oliver-huitson%2Finterview-bbc-bias-bullying-and-scottish-referendum&ei=xy0SVJyXM4_batjOgJAF&usg=AFQjCNEhpxgtmV4U3zZODz0ZvWhQGZ_NyQ&sig2=i2vO_jyY5V8_5lbwYOP3jA&bvm=bv.75097201,d.bGQ

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDMQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.stv.tv%2Fpolitics%2F268054-john-robertson-blasts-coverage-of-research-into-referendum-media-bias%2F&ei=xy0SVJyXM4_batjOgJAF&usg=AFQjCNHwhBH7Lkl8XWXCxoo8OOppJpHrzQ&sig2=qhrp2sJ2e6qqcRRRZBj5kA&bvm=bv.75097201,d.bGQ

OOAOML use of caps is for emphasis, as its difficult to relate effectively in type, did't think anyone needed this explained.

Yes, I do realise that. My comment was on the habit of some people to repeatedly finish sentences with FACT when they have generally merely stated an opinion or interpretation. We seem to be at cross-purposes.

Its also very interesting to note how many MNers say what their voting intention would be but not where they live - how distorted is that.
Surely to have any validity in voting stats the only relevant opinions are from those residing in Scotland - (Scots background doesn't count either)

The above is what you said. I repeat that this is a discussion, not an official poll. Did I miss the post where you provided your address? And I'm of the opinion that the views of those outside Scotland do have a place here. The decision affects a lot more than those who live here. My sister is Scottish but has no vote - do you expect her to have no opinion? The views of Scottish non-resident celebrities are brought into the debate by both sides. Non Scottish people living in the UK will be impacted by the decision. We're not voting in this thread, we're just discussing. I'm sorry you think some people's opinions are not relevant.

Two separate reports of the same single piece of research which has been out for months and covered a research period which ended a year ago.

StatisticallyChallenged I didn't say it was released yesterday merely suggesting if you look you will find. I note you don't challenge what is being said

OOAOML It is not my view that the opinion of others are irrelevant but if you choose to take my words out of context then so be it. The fact still remains the Prime Minister of the UK agreed that the approach he wanted was a single question removing the 2nd and 3rd questions from the ballot paper. As for your sister if she has chosen to live outside Scotland then she doesn't get to vote, its not like she's banished or exiled never to see her family or friends again. We may all have family living all over the world so you comment is somewhat mute

Yes you are right that non Scots and Scots living in the rest of the UK will be impacted but again blame David Cameron for that as he made the rules

No, your statement "It has been proven, beyond any doubt, that the referendum bias is solely the product of mainstream media namely BBC and newspapers and you like many on this board are being manipulated by those within the No Campaign."

is not supported when you provide a single piece of evidence, produced a year ago, before the official referendum campaign period had even started. That is certainly not "proven beyond any doubt."

here's another link to what the best of the UK's political elite [who claim to be in touch with equality and modern values] has to offer in its depiction of the referendum

bellacaledonia.org.uk/2014/09/11/cereal-abuse/

They are saying this about you and me.

And the fact that BT produced a crap advert proves your point about media bias how, precisely? I've seen it and slagged it off as have most people. I've also seen the utter crap being published by some parts of the Yes campaign. I include the Big White Book Of Alex Salmond's Imaginary Scotland" in that

I don't make my decisions based on media or political adverts.

What amused me about this advert was it mentioned in a discussion on Women's hour. The Pro -Yes person (Selma Rehman? I think) was saying what a terrible way to portray women, a sexist stereotype etc.
But earlier she had been talking about the first TV debate and said that the Yes campaign gained women voters after that because AD (not AS) came across as the shouty, aggressive, finger pointy man.
So lets get this straight - that advert is sexist claptrap - but it is ok to say women chose how to vote not on the basis of the facts but whether one politician is angry, shouty and pointy or not - that's not patronising to women is it?

Scotland leaves to start a new chapter while Westminster humps the Rump

And the people of rUK have to pay for it.

CU with iScotland with this attitude? I rather think not, Thanks all the same

Thanks for linking to Bella Caledonia. Nice unbiased source.

Clearly you and I are not going to agree Green.

Actually David Cameron didn't make all the rules, nice victim vibe you have going there.

You were the one who said opinions of people not living here were not relevant. However if we're going to argue semantics, my comment is not somewhat mute I presume you mean moot?

And my sister did not exactly choose to live outside Scotland - following her graduation, she moved to England to find a job, as there were no jobs in her sector in Scotland. I didn't claim she was banished or exiled - merely that she has an opinion, albeit one you think not relevant.

I was just about to post re that bella publication. Utterly biased pile of

It's one of those things that says something about the people who read and believe it. In the same category as The Sun.

IF YOU ARE STILL UNDECIDED READ THIS.....

michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/if-youre-still-undecided-one/

Am getting increasingly annoyed with my twitter feed. Am bored and irritated with the "all English are Tory bastards" line (hint: they aren't) and even more irritated with the latest I've seen, which says that men who vote no do so because they learned that at school (and haven't managed to think for themselves since) and women who vote no are doing so because... Kate.

Welp. That's not patronising at all.

I like some of these people, too. My mute function may have to be deployed pronto before I have to bring in my unfollow and block options.

It is not scaremongering...these are realities, they are facts that have happened. At the end of the day, do as you please but just be informed. The Westminster government has had a long history of at best letting the Scottish people down and at worst shitting on them. I know im voting yes..the rest is up to other people. I have a long memory...and i dont want scotland to be duped....yet again with empty promises.

...oh and threats abound.

Do you understand, and therefore accept, that the only way Alex Salmond can deliver true independence is to create a new currency?

If he pursues a currency union in the event of independence, as the Bank and England will be lender of last resort, and will be at risk in the event of scotland defaulting on debt repayments, the amount of powers that he will have to cede to Westminster to mitigate this risk will make the concept of independence meaningless. Devo Max offers much, much greater autonomy.

Salmond is full of empty promises. He is lying to the Scottish people. It is deception on such a large scale it is frightening.

But you know this, right? This is about giving two-fingers to these nasty smelly English people.....