Scottish Referendum debate - watch with Mumsnet

[KatieMumsnet]

So tonight sees the first TV debate of the Scottish Referendum with First Minister and key advocate of the pro- yes campaign, Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling, leader of the pro-UK Better Together campaign coming together for a head to head debate for the first time.

You can watch live from 8pm on STV and if you're south of the border can tune in via the STV player.

Fancy watching along with us? What are you hoping to see from tonight's debate? What are your thoughts on the campaigns so far?

If you've decided which way to vote, why? And if not, what will help you decide?

Do feel free to share these, and any more thoughts you have

[FyreFly]

People keep banging on about the oil and gas, but does anyone actually know how the North Sea is going to be divided? What will be British waters and what will be Scottish? Apologies if this has already been agreed and outlined, but I haven't seen it. I've seen maps of how Scotland WANTS the North Sea shelf divided, but I don't believe it's been formally agreed?

I also believe most of the oil rigs and their employees are from British Petroleum. I don't think the UK would give those up without a fight. It would also mean Scotland would have a British company producing its largest asset. Unless they propose to oust BP, which would be disastrous. It would also be disastrous if BP left voluntarily, although I think the likelyhood of BP leaving Scotland is about the same as me winning the lottery - they have a lot of large future investments in Scotland that they don't want to jeopardise. That said, BP's CEO has concerns about independance.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

but it still leaves an independent Scotland with no credit rating.

Why? In the unlikely event that Scotland took none of the debt, it would be a negotiated position and not a default, and Scotland has a shit load of assets?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

People keep banging on about the oil and gas, but does anyone actually know how the North Sea is going to be divided? What will be British waters and what will be Scottish? Apologies if this has already been agreed and outlined, but I haven't seen it. I've seen maps of how Scotland WANTS the North Sea shelf divided, but I don't believe it's been formally agreed?

Like everything else it'd be up for negotiation, but under international law the border is drawn out from the land border equidistantly from the coastlines. This would be a starting point, and if there is any dispute this would be the default.

[FyreFly]

You're right in that the standard default is the median line, ItsAll but like you also said, it's up for negotiation, and neither side is going to leave it uncontested - both sides have a lot of investment and interests in that area. That is going to take time and the uncertainty is likely to put off investors.

It's also worth remembering that whilst costs of oil and gas production are increasing as old wells are dried and focus moves to deeper and harder-to-access reserves, revenues from the UK Continental Shelf Area are falling year-on-year. Eventually, and probably sooner than we'd like to think, costs are going to outstrip revenue and North Sea oil and gas are going to become inviable.

Regardless of where the borders are drawn, I just don't think it's going to be the prop that Alex Salmond assumes it's going to be. And he used to be in oil before he went into politics!

[FannyFifer]

Why don't you invite women on instead?
Nicola Sturgeon & johann Lamont or Ruth Davidson.

As a website mainly for women I would enjoy that much better.

[OldLadyKnowsSomething]

As Itsall says, ownership of the oil fields is decided by international law, and not really an issue. The company may be called "British Petroleum" but it's not owned by the UK and operates all over the world; there would be no reason for them to pull out of Scottish waters and if for some reason they did, there would be a queue of other operators waiting to take their place.

[OldLadyKnowsSomething]

Oh god, please not Johann!

Fyrefly, there are billions of pounds of new investment going into oil right now, why would they do that if it's running out next week? An estimated 39,000 new jobs are to be created in the next wee while, and strong rumour has it that recent tests have shown the Clair Ridge to have up to 3 times more reserves than previously thought; it may be the biggest field in the world. Then there's the potential new fields off the Ayrshire coast. Oil isn't running out any time soon, and while we have it we can be investing in new technologies and renewable energies.

Besides, even without any oil at all, our economy is strong; oil is a (massive) bonus.

[squoosh]

Patrick Harvie is my favourite Yes person.

[OldLadyKnowsSomething]

Patrick Harvie is a wonderful speaker, or, if it's women we're after, how about Carolyn Leckie of the Radical Independence Campaign? Any suggestions for the No side?

[SirChenjin]

No reason - except cost to bring ashore and process, taxation levels within Scotland, long term viability of fields, and so on. Either way, as oil revenues (inevitably) decline in the longer term and Scotland's population ages then an inde Govt would have to achieve a strong and sustainable economy. Imo the SNP haven't set out in detail how they would do this - and the idea that we would simply enter into negotiations for oil field ownership and get what we wanted if the Yes vote was successful seems like just another "och it'll all be smashing" SNP vision as opposed to a reality based on fact.

[SirChenjin]

Missed the bit about inviting other speakers - nope, not interested. I want the organ grinders answering the questions.

[OldLadyKnowsSomething]

So Cameron rather than back bench Labour MP Darling, then?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

But Alistair Darling is a monkey not an organ grinder. He's just a backbencher FFS, he can say/promise whatever he likes - has not really in a position to do anything.

Alex Salmon's on the other hand, whatever else you may think, had successfully led the country for the past few years.

I wish David Cameron would debate him, rather than all this crap about how it's not his place to get involved.

[KatieMumsnet]

Hi all. Just to say they've rather punctually (I admire their twitter skills) accepted the invite, so will let you know as soon as we confirm the debate.

MNHQ

[squoosh]

Oooooh, that will certainly get you some website hits MN.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

OOOH excellent. I'm with SirChenjin (seem to be saying that a lot today!), I want to hear from the organ grinders!

Admittedly who is the organ grinder for the No campaign is tricky - I can see David Cameron's point to an extent. I think he needs to lay out why he wants Scotland to stay but I think I prefer the people debating to be those who are directly involved.

[Numanoid]

Ooh brilliant! Just saw the announcement. Will definitely come on and join in, hope to see a better performance from both of them this time. Maybe Darling will actually answer some questions unlike yesterday's debate, and wee Eck can avoid being sidetracked. :) Although I think Nicola Sturgeon would have been a better bet, she'd verbally annihilate Darling.

[Numanoid]

Statistically Darling is the chair of the Better Together campaign, although technically I suppose Cameron, as the leader of the UK, would be the one 'in charge' of arguing for the Union.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I know that Numanoid, maybe wasn't clear - I was responding to the poster above who commented on who is the best person to be debating.

[Crutchlow35]

Those who tried to watch online and couldn't, do you have sky? If you go up to channels around the 950s, I can get BBC wales, ITV London, Northern Ireland etc. I use it when some naff scottish football game clashes with the soaps and tune in then.

[Numanoid]

I was responding to the poster above who commented on who is the best person to be debating.

Sorry hadn't realised! :)

In that case, I think Cameron and Sturgeon would be interesting. There are quite a few people who would provide an interesting debate, I think.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I watched the Sturgeon v Lamont debate a while ago and I have to admit it made me want to claw my own eyes out so I'd rather not repeat that experience!

My abiding memory is "I'm ASTONISHED"!!!!

[prettybird]

My memory of that debate is "Scots aren't genetically programmed to make political decisions"

I think I know what Johann Lamont meant to get across but she dug a hole for herself in the inept way she said it.

[OldLadyKnowsSomething]

Which is why I said "Oh god not Johann!" upthread. That was just awful, the stairheid rammy.