Nicola Sturgeon and Michael Moore clash in independence debate | Politics. Nicola Sturgeon and Michael Moore have clashed in the first major televised debate of the referendum campaign. The Deputy First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland went head-to-head in Scotland Tonight's live one-hour special on the economics of independence.
Ms Sturgeon and Mr Moore fielded questions from presenter and moderator John MacKay before grilling each other in a cross-examination. The two political heavyweights crossed swords on a range of economic, monetary and fiscal questions, covering everything from North Sea oil revenues to the proposed "Sterlingzone" monetary union. STV's political editor Bernard Ponsonby, providing analysis after the debate, judged Ms Sturgeon to have scored a “comfortable points victory”. The debate became heated at several points, including the focus on welfare and tax. Ms Sturgeon demanded: “Why should your welfare cuts be imposed on Scotland against the democratic wishes of the Scottish Parliament?” More About Scotland Tonight. BBC Newsnight - Nicola Sturgeon on Scottish Independence.
Calum's Blog: Scottish Independence TV Debate: Nicola Sturgeon V.S. Michael Moore. I've just finished watching Scotland Tonight's debate on the economics of Scottish independence again, which was very interesting indeed. Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP and Michael Moore from the UK government went head-to-head live on national television, and both were given the opportunity to make an opening pitch and put forward their case, before cross-examining each other and asking questions. So who came across better in the debate? The short answer, without a doubt, is Nicola Sturgeon. What she was able to do was forcefully put across her arguments to Michael Moore, who was not able to do the same. Her questions to the Secretary of State were also much more pressing. I normally think Michael Moore comes across quite well on TV, in his interviews for instance, or on Question Time.
The main discussion points were on the currency issue, and poverty. Then we have the currency, which is the nationalists' weakest position beyond all else. Nicola Sturgeon claims there is a ‘natural majority’ for Yes vote on independence - Politics. The SNP would scrap the UK Government’s single universal credit if elected in the event of independence, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. In a keynote speech where she claimed there is a “natural majority” for a Yes vote, Nicola Sturgeon said she thinks the new system hits women hardest. Ms Sturgeon pledged to reverse the Westminster changes and pay money directly to individuals rather than the household, something the SNP estimate would benefit around 70,000 people, mostly women, in low-income households across Scotland.
The announcement is part of a strategy by the SNP to encourage people to focus on what can be delivered with independence. Ms Sturgeon said: “The new universal credit system discriminates against women. It undermines the independence of women. “And because it applies a single earnings disregard when people move into work, it reduces the incentive to work for second earners in a household — who will usually be women. Scottish independence: what you need to know. With 10 days left before Scotland goes to the polls, the Yes campaign has taken the lead in opinion polling for the first time. Here is an abridged guide to next week’s historic vote. Just about every contemporary writer or artist, young and old, that I know has declared they’ll be saying a big ‘Yes’ to ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ … There is a very powerful drive towards cultural and political autonomy.
A desire to grow up and take responsibility for ourselves. Liz Lochhead I think Scotland is on the brink of great and exciting things. It’s actually beginning to realise itself now. Irvine Welsh The ‘Yes’ campaign has centred on a positive vision for Scotland. Sir Sean Connery Eight-hundred thousand Scots, like me, live and work in other parts of the United Kingdom. Sir Alex Ferguson My hesitance at embracing independence has nothing to do with lack of belief in Scotland’s remarkable people or its achievements. JK Rowling Susan Boyle. Scottish independence: Peak nationalism. TOMORROW evening Alex Salmond, the man who would take Scotland out of the United Kingdom, will debate Alistair Darling, who boringly insists on keeping it where it is. The nationalists trail in the polls. But Mr Salmond’s optimism about Scotland’s bright future as an independent country will probably come across better on television than Mr Darling’s pragmatic worries about pensions and the pound.
The nationalists could come out of the debate looking good. In which case, your correspondent submits, it could well be the high point for the cause of Scottish independence—not just in this campaign but for decades to come. And Scottish nationalism will not be the only variety to decline. It is likely, though by no means certain, that Scots will vote to remain part of Britain on September 18th. Three things are sustaining the “Yes” campaign. It is highly unlikely that these three conditions will all be present again at any point in the next few decades. Scottish independence: 'Yes' vote takes the lead for first time in shock poll - Scottish independence - UK. A fresh YouGov poll, when excluding undecided voters, placed the Scottish National Party-backed campaign for independence in a 51-49 point lead – the first time it has polled ahead.
Earlier in the campaign, unionists enjoyed a double-digit lead, an advantage which has quickly vanished in the past fortnight. Supporters among the Yes camp were caught between celebrating the result of the poll, commissioned by The Sunday Times, and messages to colleagues to keep their feet on the ground, amid the boomerang possibility of the poll waking No voters from any complacency. "Whatever the detail of poll, it just that – a poll," tweeted SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon. "It's the vote on 18/9 that counts so let's redouble our efforts and stay focussed. " When the "don't knows" were included in the YouGov poll, the Yes to independence campaign was still ahead at 47 to 46.
The figures lit up on social media, unsurprisingly among supporters. ‘Yes’ On the evening of 16 May 1973, around halfway through the Aladdin Sane tour, I watched David Bowie play his second sold-out show at the Aberdeen Music Hall. I could not have imagined that one day I would be listening to him – or, rather, listening to Kate Moss speaking on his behalf – intervene in the debate over a Scottish independence referendum. Mind you, I cannot pretend that the national question was a high priority for my 15-year-old self; nor could I have imagined that there would ever be a Scottish independence referendum. The message that Moss read out for Bowie at the Brit Awards on 20 February this year –‘Scotland, stay with us’ – nevertheless deserves to be taken more seriously than it has been, and certainly more than the mixture of bluff and bullying that Scots have recently received from Messrs Osborne, Barroso and the directors of Standard Life plc.
Bowie is actually a more political artist than is often supposed, but he is in no sense a conventionally left-wing one. Salmond calls for independence referendum in 2014. 10 January 2012Last updated at 21:14 Alex Salmond: "Let the view of the Scottish people prevail" Alex Salmond has said he wants to hold an independence referendum in Scotland in the autumn of 2014. The Scottish first minister said this date would allow people to make a "considered" decision on the country's future within the United Kingdom. The news came as the UK government said its Scottish counterpart could not legally go ahead without its authority.
It has said it wanted to work with the SNP-led administration amid a row over the timing and conditions for a poll. Confirming the Scottish government's preferred date for a referendum, Mr Salmond - who wants Scotland to leave the UK - said holding a poll in 2014 would allow all the necessary legislation required to authorise it to be passed and for proper preparations to be made. 'Made in Scotland' Mr Salmond added: "The date for the referendum has to be the autumn of 2014. 'Legal and fair' 'Clarity sought' Continue reading the main story.
Scottish Independence. Scottish independence referendum: What is devolution max? 20 February 2012Last updated at 14:39 By Michael Buchanan BBC News Looking to the future - will it be "as-you-are", "devo max" or full independence? Independence for Scotland is fairly straight-forward. Off they go, [or maybe I should say off we go - as a Hebridean living in London]. Anyway, according to opinion polls, I may be spared such contortions as something called "devo max", it seems, is Scotland's favoured option - but the problem is no on seems to know what it is. If Pepsi-Max can be described as "fat-free Pepsi", then devo max can be described as "fat-free independence", essentially the powers of a separate nation without the need for military chiefs, diplomats and expensive embassies. For others of course it can be less extreme. Continue reading the main story What is devo max? Scottish Secretary Liberal Democrat Michael Moore - "Devo max is really a brand without a product, a concept of more powers for Scotland without any detail about what that entails.
" 'No clear view'