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.

Mr Salmond

Given you have just handed the responsibility for tackling obesity in Glasgow to Weight Watchers; that, in fact, 5% of the Scottish NHS budget goes to sub contractors, which is higher than the equivalent for the North East of England (the area to which you drew so much media attention about 'creeping privatisation'); and that this figure has doubled under the SNP...

...please explain how you can claim that the NHS in Scotland really is safe in your hands.

Mr Salmond

It has been stated that if Scotland does become independent then on 13th March 2016, everyone living in Scotland will become a Scottish national.

I am English, living in Scotland. I will always be English - you cannot take my nationality away from me. How do you propose to "make" me a Scottish national?

I have some concerns that freezing council tax has contributed to a removal of accountability, decision making and control from local councils in Scotland. Will the outcome of the referendum make any significant changes to how local councils are funded or to the powers that they have?

To AS - I've been living in the US for 10 years and would love to return home to Scotland with my American husband and children. However, I've been unable to do so both because of the new immigration policy which would require me to have around 70k in cash, and due to the difficulty of finding good employment opportunities. What would an independent Scotland do to welcome non-EU immigrants (and citizens who happen to have non EU spouses) and how do you plan to create more jobs?

Alistair Darling: What do we have already that we wouldn't have in an independent Scotland? Not just idle threats like xyz is 'at risk' which is just scaremongering. What actual thing can it be categorically stated would go if Scotland votes Yes?

My sister received a BT leaflet the other day suggesting there would be fewer law jobs (??) and that Glastonbury would no longer be accessible to Scots. Adding this to the "we cant use the pound" and Tesco supermarket prices fiascos it's difficult to believe anything Better Together tell us. So, can you provide us with an answer to what we would actually, definitely lose if we vote Yes?

to AS.

A lot of well respected publications and commentators have the opinion that post an independence vote, assuming a yes, the economic situation in Scotland may get worse in the short to medium term for lots of the population which could in turn have a knock on effect for the poorest in society. Do you agree with this statement? If not what figures can you use to prove that the economy will stay strong. And also, do you think this has been accurately represented by the yes campaign or do you think many yes voters will be expecting immediate results?

Education - how would Scotland continue to offer free University Education following a Yes vote when it would no longer be able to discriminate against students from England, Wales and N Ireland ?

I support this post 150%

Mr Salmond in the second debate you talked about a Tory-led plan to privatise the NHS in Scotland which has apparently chimed with voters and boost the Yes campaign's popularity.

But the NHS is wholly devolved in Scotland and the Tories have no influence in the Scottish Government. Can you explain?

Why do Scotland want to swap the United Kingdom for full integration with the EU?

The issue is Scotland will have to take on the Euro (a requirement for all new EU joiners) and Schengen amongst a great number of other things. The UK negotiated their position before these mandatory requirements were in place and so managed to avoid them. It means more rule from Brussels and a passport control on the England border.

What will the Scottish population be able to do if it turns out the things promised by the yes campaign can't be delivered ie keeping the pound, EU membership etc ?

Edinburgh is the UK's biggest financial centre outside of London. Many families rely on this industry for 2 incomes. The City also has a very expensive housing stock.

In the event of a Yes vote it is likely that many or most financial companies would move the bulk if their operations to the country where the majority of their customers are ie England.

What do you think the impact on Edinburgh would be and how would you minimise the damage to the city and its residents.

Sorry to ask a question about only one city in Scotland. I look forward to reading the debate this evening. Thanks for taking the time to do this

Mr Darling,
What on earth has happened to Labour, and, in particular, Scottish Labour, that you can so comfortably stand cheek-by-jowl with right-wing politicians on this campaign? And similarly, how do you feel about having shared values with the 10,000 sectarian bigots who will sully the streets of Edinburgh next weekend?

Just a reminder folks - we're anticipating lots of questions on this thread so please stick to the one-question-per-poster rule, or there's a severe danger your post will be unanswered. If you'd like us to delete a post with multiple questions in and re post just one, do let us know.

Re. posters who've asked two questions, one to each leader - you might have a better chance of an answer if you can come up with a more general question that can apply to both.

Question for you both-did you watch "Kevin Bridges-Live at the Referendum"
and what did you think?

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.

What lessons will you learn, from when the Republic of Ireland became independent?

Mr Salmond, assuming that, in the highly likely event, an independent Scotland in the EU will not be able to keep the same opt outs that the UK has negotiated, how would you feel about an independent Scotland having to contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the rebate that the rest of the UK receives from the EU ?

Mr Darling, if Scotland suffer from a massive economic depression in the event of a yes vote (as warned by three very large international investment banks), will the british public be bailing out Scotland for the next 10 years? Or are we going to throw out hands up and say "its what you wanted" . If we are going to be taxed more to bail them out, should we not also get a vote?

Could the questions be answered without resorting to the attempts at obfuscation by resorting to the words 'bluff, bluster, bullying or scaremongering'. Thank you.

Question for AS:

Please an you explain the hypocrisy of wanting to be part of NATO but of not wanting any involvement in Trident.

Question for AD: in the event of a NO vote and increased powers for Scotland, have you considered the effect on the rest of the union and specifically the potential increase in English Nationalism?

Mumsnet - I hope you are going to ask a balanced number of questions from both sides of argument.

To AS - mr Salmond we have heard ad infinitum what you want to do but at meetings with your colleagues, when you are asked by journalists, we never ever get a straight answer on HOW you are going to deliver things - the brush off is always "wait & see... We"ll work it out in negotiations". Eg. As currency union is impossible, HOW is this going to affect my mortgage which is with an international bank - how am I going to be paying it - is my money going to be affected by foreign exchange? And please don't answer this with "everything is going to be fine". I need facts.

Mr Darling - keep calm, don't let AS talk over you and if he tries to, tell him to be quiet and let you talk. After all you let him talk without interruption.

Okay I've got a question for both of them now:

What will be the nationality of ex pat Scots, and also their children who may currently have dual citizenship?