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MNHQ

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

18 replies

JustineMumsnet · 09/09/2014 08:35

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.

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

JustineMumsnet · 09/09/2014 10:41

@weatherall

Mumsnet- why have you mentioned the party of Alex Salmond but not Alistair Darling? Can you please attempt to be neutral?

Hi weatherall, the reason is that Alex Salmond is not officially head of the Yes campaign - and in other places where we've described him as such we've rightly been corrected by users. So head of the SNP seemed the most appropriate way to describe him but then again, not sure we need any titles as we know you all know who they are - so we'll just nip in and remove the descriptions altogether.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 09/09/2014 14:13

Hello all,
We're anticipating lots of questions on this thread so please stick to the one question, one 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.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 09/09/2014 16:52

Tinkerball, safer to pick one question to one leader or one that's relevant to both. (Though obviously we'll try to get through as many as humanly possible)

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 10/09/2014 09:04

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.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 10/09/2014 10:58

Hi Clarinshobbs - we can only allow one question per poster, as previously stated.

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 10/09/2014 13:18

@WhoKnowsNewName

I'm assuming AS and AD will not actually be physically present in MNHQ. I know someone close to one of the campaigns who told me it would be a researcher answering the questions or possibly Blair Jenkins and Blair McDougall. Are you able to respond to these questions? Many thanks.

Hi all, to explain the logistics - we couldn't get Alastair Darling and Alex Salmond down to London, so we've gone to them. They won't be in the same room; Alastair Darling will be with our head of press, Katie, in Glasgow, and Alex Salmond will be with Justine in Edinburgh. They'll have been able to look at the thread in advance, obviously, but will be answering live - and it will definitely be them, and not a researcher. HTH

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 10/09/2014 13:32

@WhoKnowsNewName

Sarah, many thanks indeed. But they get to cherry-pick which questions they answer, yes? This is all rather pointless if that's the case.

Hey WhoKnowsNewName - obviously their time is limited; it's unlikely they'll get through all the questions posted, so there'll be a degree of picking, if not cherry picking, involved. However, as with all webchats, we advise all our guests not to duck the hard questions - MNers will just keep asking them if they do, so it's a bit pointless, really. And we'll be directing both guests to questions that have come up repeatedly. Hope that's reassuring.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 10/09/2014 13:37

So we're with Alex Salmond and lots of lovely babies at an internet cafe in sunny Edinburgh and we'll be kicking off soon.

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

SarahMumsnet · 10/09/2014 13:38

... and Justine just sent us this pic from Edinburgh: preparations underway, clearly ...

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

KatieMumsnet · 10/09/2014 13:41

And we're almost ready to go in Glasgow, being serenaded by street jazz.

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 10/09/2014 14:31

Hey weatherall - lots of qs here and we want the guests to get through as many as possible, and tbh our webchat guidelines do call for civility and not posting lots of repeat questions. Understand it's a heated situation but would be good if all posters could stick to the Guidelines please.

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 10/09/2014 14:35

@weatherall

Cedric, we are allowed to comment on posts.

Yup that's fine but we're keen to avoid individual posters dominating the debate or sparking off intra-poster debates while the webchat is ongoing - partly for practical reasons and partly because the tone of some of the posts was a bit uncivil

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 10/09/2014 14:47

@weatherall

Rowan- I posted 1 question. Lots of other posters made multiple posts and questions. I commented on posts made and made 2 'rhetorical question' type comments which were obviously not expecting a response.

Why do you choose to single out a Yes poster for webchat etiquette when others are not following the guidelines to the letter?

It's not your affiliation weatherall - MNHQ takes no position on the referendum question - it's that your posts struck us as skirting webchat guidelines on two counts (repetitive and a bit uncivil).

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 10/09/2014 16:57

@jenny77

Where are the answers?

Hi Jenny

They're scattered throughout the thread - Alex Salmond in yellow/orange background, Alistair Darling in light green. If you scroll through you should be able to see them. You might find it easier (unless you're on a patchy connection!) to view the whole thread on one page - you can do this via 'customise'.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 11/09/2014 10:52

@Romeyroo

Well, my quick tally suggests that Alex Salmond answered 17 questions, including one twice; and Alistair Darling answered 16 - so in terms of questions answered, it was about equal. Have not read all of the content yet, though.

Actual tally of questions answered, fwiw, (not including hellos and goodbyes etc) was Alex Salmond - 19 vs Alistair Darling - 17
You can see an archive here

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 11/09/2014 11:09

@LineRunner

Is that because AS hung around longer?

He stayed roughly and extra 5 mins

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 11/09/2014 11:10

@OOAOML

Is that responses, or questions? I thought both of them spent a bit long going over the same ground several times. But then that kind of sums up a lot of the referendum to be honest.

Responses.

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 11/09/2014 14:47

Hello all

Before yesterday's webchat, we filmed Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling answering some of the questions that were put to them on the thread. Do have a look at the video below and let us know what you think - and for their answers to the critical biscuit question, ...

Watch this thread for updates

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