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.

How the fuck do you go walking in the Highlands or skiing in Aberdeen without money? You need money to pay for it!

And if we're talking about the country as a whole, being financially worse off is a major problem, because it leads to cuts. And the people who suffer most from government cuts are the ones at the bottom.

I'm not talking about the happiness generated from a 5K rise in salary. I'm talking about the sort of cuts we will have to make to meet the likely requirements of either sterlingization or a currency union, which seem to be Salmond's only plans. Those cuts will hit the poorest people the hardest. For most people, whilst having ever more money does not necessarily correlate to happiness a sudden reduction in finances will be correlated with a reduction in happiness.

There will always be exceptions. But if you are already just making things work then a cut will not make you happy just because you can do for a long walk.

I don't think Scots need to worry. Scotland is full of well educated people. They will manage alone if they vote that way (although if I had to put money on it I think they'll vote No).

(A walk costs nothing. )

I just think the yes campaign have assumed the only relevant issue is money when for many Scots it is about getting back their own nation and having self determination and right to run their own small country like Switzerland or New Zealand.

It sounds from the wording if your last post that you aren't based in Scotland (not that it matters)

*of... Stupid auto correct!

I don't agree with some of the views on here or in the media but I have to say engagement in the process is astonishing,

Without anyone jumping in with what the Polls say, I have still to hear the views of those who can explain why in their opinion, if the arguments of the YES campaign are so wrong, is the YES vote gaining ground across all sectors of society.

Well, there's a walk in the Highlands and there's a walk through the Glasgow schemes, isn't there?

I just think the yes campaign have assumed the only relevant issue is money when for many Scots it is about getting back their own nation and having self determination and right to run their own small country like Switzerland or New Zealand.

I assume that's a typo and you mean the no campaign.... Anyway. We can't run our own small country like Switzerland or New Zealand because of money. The foundations aren't there. We'd be ranked alongside Estonia and Botswana.

Credit Suisse's report this week was grim. They believed that Scotland would fall into a deep recession. We believe deposit flight is both highly likely and highly problematic (with banks assets of 12x GDP) and should the BoE move to guarantee Scottish deposits, we expect it to extract a high fiscal and regulatory price (probably insisting on a primary budget surplus). The re-domiciling of the financial sector and UK public service jobs, as well as a legal dispute over North Sea oil, would further accelerate any downturn. In our opinion, as North Sea oil production slows, we estimate that the non-oil economy would need a 10% to 20% devaluation to restore competitiveness. This would require a 5% to 10% fall in wages, driven by a steep rise in unemployment.

I have still to hear the views of those who can explain why in their opinion, if the arguments of the YES campaign are so wrong, is the YES vote gaining ground across all sectors of society.

Because they're promising people everything. It sounds wonderful. They're using highly emotive language to discredit anyone who disagrees and pulling out scare tactics to intimidate anyone wavering (the NHS, we'll be punished for daring to do this etc).

Ok greengardenpixie, let's be positive here. Say we do get independence, something that you have obviously been campaigning for all your life, what will you do differently? how will you contribute to the economy?

Is there skiing in Aberdeen? ::googles::

dry ski slope in garthdee near asda.

Well that's me convinced !!!

Seriously, is that it. The whole no campaign summed up as its all make believe and fairy tales. If thats the case why do Westminster want to hold onto Scotland?

Because Scotland brings a lot to the union, and it would be a big loss. Both Scotland and the rUK would be affected.

prettybird Crawford Beveridge was VP Sun Micrysystems before becoming Chief Exec of Scottish Enterprise from 1991-99 (so under both Tory and Labour regimes) so he has a wealth of business experience - not just as an advisor to the ScotGov.

Does that mean he was responsible for all the incentives paid to foreign electronics companies to set up in "Silicon Glen", which mostly then went bust after a decade or so. And Sun Microsystems laid off thousands. I know someone who was made redundant by them.

Does becoming an advisor to the SG immediately disqualify someone from having an opinion - or is it evidence of seeking expertise from the business sector?

Not at all - I am all for judging government investors on their qualifications, experience and successes.

why? its about timing. The uk is just coming out of years of recession. Finally we can hope for some much needed growth although we still have a mountain of debt to deal with.
If scotland splits away then the whole of the uk will be tainted with the risk. international investors will not want to invest here, buy our bonds or hold our currency until its clear whats going to happen to us (rUk, that is).

both scotland and rUK needs this period of growth but neither will get it if there is a yes next week.

Santana How the fuck do you go walking in the Highlands or skiing in Aberdeen without money? You need money to pay for it!*

Well, obviously Brigadoon, where you're meant to live, is near the glens and all. Bit of a shame if you actually live in Scotstoun or Blackridge or similar, but I guess you would get very fit with the long distance trekking!

How that translates to a multi billion pound tourist industry, I don't know. Maybe free b&bs and public transport or something?

Dalzeil I agree people in this country seem to forget we're just climbing out of an international recession. DH had a telephone interview yesterday with a foreign company, as he will probably lose his job if there is a Yes vote, and the interviewer was telling him all about the cuts that (European) country will still soaking up, but they all hoped it would leave them in a healthier state economy wise eventually.

Anniehoo

This is not an argument about what I will contribute in an independent Scotland but rather, what negative impact will the UK government's monetary policy have on the values the people of Scotland have indicated are important to them in the last election 2011 when against all odds and against the best efforts of the UK government to ensure no single party could win an outright majority values such as such as no privatization of NHS in Scotland.

You may be assuming that I am fit, able bodied, white working class, employed, homeowner etc etc, you may assume I am of a certain age, you only know that I am at least 35 years old, however that could be a lie designed to mislead you or I could be 75 years old. The significance of this is I can tell you anything I like and you have no way to verify its accuracy.

When it is a proven fact that the Westminster parties deliberately conceal vital information I have to question why. Why do they not want me knowing that. Why was the McCrone report considered "incendiary" and secreted away.

Greengardenpixie -seriously, are you ok?

Yes im fine thanks dalziel1 :)

SantanaLopezyes it does yet if you believed the Westminster spin, were all subsidy junkies when in the opposite is the reality. I don't even mind paying more and spreading it around but even that is not happening, UK Gov are taking our money (yours and mine) and spending it on things I am fundamentally opposed to. I don't want that, I want my taxes to work for the betterment of humanity.

(Yes,sorry I meant the other way round - yes and no.
I've worked in Aberdeen a good few times. I thought the people I met there were incredibly happy and very sporty - doing all kinds of active things which was partly because of the opportunities there.

Yes, I am not in Scotland and from just over Hadrian's Wall but I think it will be fine for the Scots if they vote yes (although I expect it will be no).

What I don't want is continuing unfairness in a united country - I want the same prescriptions charges across all 4 countries. I want no or the same university fees across all the countries. We need to stamp out the unfairness to England whether the vote is yes or no.

I suppose if it's a yes then my children will be able to go to universities in Scotland free as if they were French children. So that might save me £54k for a start.

the values the people of Scotland have indicated are important to them in the last election 2011

Turnout: 50%

values such as such as no privatization of NHS in Scotland.

No privatisation of the NHS in Scotland? It's happening under your nose. The SNP have given Weight Watchers a big Glasgow-NHS contract. In 2011-12, they spent £68.7 million on private contracts. This rose to £83.4 million the next year!

were all subsidy junkies when in the opposite is the reality.

Scotland receives more than it pays in. Quite simply.

I think you've had a bit too much to drink though.

I cannot understand how Scotland will be better off independent. There is far too much doubt, uncertainty and unanswered questions. We are expected to make a leap into the complete unknown and once all the bridges have been burnt will we find out if it's achievable . Defence is a massive area which is so overlooked until it is too late. MI5, MI6 will treat us like a foreign country and any one who thinks that is not a problem is sadly too trusting.
Education is completely devolved already, but 12,000 children don't have a nursery place, college place nd apprenticeships for children who can't make it to university have been cut. If you're a deaf child in Scotland you will already have far less spent on you than anywhere else in the UK. But if you are the child of a multi millionaire you will still have your university fees paid for.

We give less blood per head of population, transplants are a problem. 60 percent of consultants in the NHS have said independence will be bad for patients. Free prescriptions to the multi millionaires, but still Glasgow is the heart attack capital of the UK. How is this fair. These are all areas the SNP have control over, but have done nothing about it.

We won't get the pound, not because Westminster says NO but because the people will say no to us. The English used to like us but there has been so much venom sent south why does anyone think they will give everything we ask for. It will be a messy divorce . If we get a yes vote I hope those who vote yes will still be wearing their badges in 5/ 10 years time so they can explain why we are in such a mess

I want my taxes to work for the betterment of humanity.

I don't think you'll ever get that.

the values the people of Scotland have indicated are important to them in the last election 2011 turnout is not being debated - of those that cast their vote in a democratic election the result was an overwhelming victory for SNP - thats the fault of UK politicians who are responsible for the millions of disaffected and disconnected voters across the UK - and apathy suits the UK parties just fine

values such as such as no privatization of NHS in Scotland.

use of privateisector is common place across all public sector industries, what UK are doing in England is a million miles from the Scottish model. but we face the same fate due to monetary policy of UK

Scotland receives more than it pays in Quite simply wrong.

I think you've had a bit too much to drink though. wrong again, although if I had I still make more sense than you have