Debate night for Scotland

TONIGHT Scotland will get its first chance to see the leaders of the two campaigns, for and against independence, go head to head.

The televised debate between pro-independence leader Alex Salmond and the Better Together Campaign head Alistair Darling has been pitched as a key moment in the build up to September's referendum vote.

Political debates have long been an important part of politics. In America they are viewed as crucial for the success of Presidential campaigns. In Britain, however, they are still watched with a degree of scepticism by the voting public.

The televised debates between David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg prior to the 2010 General election were hailed by some observers as the reason for the astonishing gains made by the Liberal Democrats.

Despite Mr Clegg's presence and personality in the debates, however, he has failed to meet expectations, leading to the party's relegation to fourth place in opinion polls.

Both Mr Salmond and Mr Darling will be hoping that their performances tonight have a longer lasting impact.

The campaign has heated up in recent weeks as both sides have accused the other of misleading the electorate over the repercussions of Scotland leaving the Union. Tonight they will be able to confront each other face to face. Many will be hoping that they are able to make sense of an increasingly confused economic agenda amongst other things.

Blair Jenkins, chief executive of the Yes Scotland Campaign, has been reported as saying: "Viewers will get the chance to hear why decisions made on Scotland's future should be taken here in Scotland.

"Our experience is that most undecided voters choose Yes when they hear both sides of the debate, and therefore we believe the mass TV audience will benefit our positive campaign.

'We also believe that the No campaign have a problem with both the negativity of their message, and the unpopularity of their messengers."

Meanwhile Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall has lowered expectations of the debate, claiming that the real discussions will take place off air.

"The referendum debate isn't confined to TV studios. It is taking place in conversations between friends and family across Scotland.

"The biggest debate is taking place on the doorsteps, around kitchen tables and in workplaces across the country.

"And the more people talk about what leaving the UK would mean for our schools and hospitals, the more they are saying no thanks to separation."

The danger of the debates, as proven by the 2010 election, is that the policies are lost amid the personalities of the participants. Mr Salmond potentially holds the winning hand in this case. His bombastic and larger than life approach may appeal more to swing voters than Mr Darling's more academic reasoned arguments. Whatever the pro's and con's debated it could all come down to how well they are put across, rather than the actual merits of, the facts and opinions which persuade voters. With recent polls putting the difference between two camps in single digits the only thing certain for tonight is that both campaigns still have everything to play for.

Scotland's future will be based on passion not politics

WITH the battle for Scotland now into the final 100 days both sides are fighting hard to win the trust of voters.

While polling has provided mixed results in predicting who may be in the lead recent data comparing them all have provided an insight into how close the race currently is. Based on this ‘poll of polls’ the “Better together” campaign has a slight lead with 50 per cent of the electorate against the Yes campaign’s 36 per cent, with 14 per cent still undecided.

Voter turnout is expected to be high as the fate of Scotland and the Union is decided on September 18^th, with some observers estimating that 80 per cent of the electorate will cast their ballot. When compared to the 50 per cent turnout for the Scottish General Election in 2011 it starts to show how much people are paying attention to this particular election.

The election won’t be decided by those who are fighting for either side though. It is down to the floating voters who have still not made up their minds. The Yes and No campaigns know this and have gone to great lengths to get their messages across.

At times the debate has turned to negative campaigning, something not guaranteed to win voters over. Alex Salmond has repeatedly condemned Westminster for ‘fear mongering’ while the government has criticised the Yes campaigns uncosted policies and belligerent attitude towards anyone who disagrees with them.

The key issues have likewise turned from hard facts to playing on people’s hopes and fears. The Yes campaign has repeatedly attempted to reassure voters that not everything will change. Despite assurances to the contrary by Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat Leaders the Alex Salmond has claimed that an independent Scotland will be able to retain the pound. Likewise dismissing statements from senior European Union politicians he has stated that Scotland’s place in the EU would be assured.

Meanwhile the Yes campaign has attempted to play on people’s fears of the future. They have claimed that an independent would not be able to afford the policies which Mr Salmond has proposed and focused on the need to stay united.

In move to play on these fears British Prime Minister David Cameron enlisted the help of American President Barack Obama last week to put forward his case. Speaking at a joint press conference in Brussels on Thursday President Obama said that Washington had “a deep interest in making sure that one of the closest allies we [America] will ever have remains a strong, united and effective partner.”

Leader of the recently rebranded ‘Better Together Campaign’, MP Alistair Darling, has called a vote for independence “a leap into the unknown to a very uncertain destination.” The newly named ‘No Thanks Campaign’ is trying to muster its forces to combat the vitality of the Yes Campaign. They are against a strong foe though. Scottish Nationalism is gaining strength and the spirit of Bannockburn is fuelling them on.

Speaking to Sky News Mr Salmond gave an impassioned statement: “This is the first time that people in Scotland have had a democratic opportunity to vote themselves into   independence. It is the opportunity not just of a lifetime, it is an opportunity of the centuries.”

This election may turn out to be more than just policy choices, it will be about passion and belief. ON 18^th September it will be decided whether that passion and belief is for a united or independent Scotland.