Summary

  • Alex Salmond & Alistair Darling went head-to-head in their second televised debate on Mon 25 Aug

  • In fiery exchanges, they clashed on currency, but also oil revenues, the NHS & Trident

  • The referendum on Scottish independence takes place on 18 September

  • Voters in Scotland will be asked: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

  1. Uncomfortable moment?published at 21:10 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Mr Darling is taken to task by an audience member for "his Labour government" starting the privatisation of the NHS. An uncomfortable moment for the Better Together leader.

    BBC debate
  2. Love for Glenn...published at 21:07 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Observer columnist Kevin McKenna, external: Glenn Campbell playing a blinder too. Assured, sharp and knowledgeable...

    gideonwilliams, external: Most impressed with Glenn Campbell so far - not at all overawed and putting both in their place. Conscious of the audience #bbcindyref

    Kenny MacKenzie, external: #bbcindyref Glenn Campbell's having a good night. #NoNonsense

  3. Analysis - NHSpublished at 21:07 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Brian Taylor
    Political editor, Scotland

    From the economy to public services - and the NHS.

    Alex Salmond expands upon his argument that the NHS in Scotland is potentially jeopardised by the continuation of the Union.

    It is not, he says, that Scotland can be forced to privatise the NHS - because control of the service is devolved.

    The issue, he says, is that financial control does not ultimately lie in Scotland. If there is charging in England, for example, he says that reduces the scope of the public provision in England and, via Barnett, cuts the money available to Scotland.

    Alistair Darling responds by accusing his rival of scare-mongering. He says some of the issues raised by the supporters of independence in this regard amount to complete fabrication.

  4. Public spendingpublished at 21:06 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Emily Craig
    Political analyst, BBC News

    Alistair Darling says public spending in Scotland is £1,200 per head more than in the rest of the UK.

    According to the House of Commons Library, external, in 2012/13 public spending per head in the UK as a whole was £8,788 and for Scotland it was £10,152 - a difference of more than £1,300.

  5. The NHSpublished at 21:06 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Scotland at home is the next section of the debate.

    "How would independence change the NHS, for everyone but mainly for those with chronic illnesses?" asks a member of the audience.

    Mr Salmond says the danger for Scotland is if England goes down the road of privatisation and cuts in funding for Scotland have an impact. He says Scotland cannot be forced to go down the privatisation route but the financial constraints can make life difficult.

    Mr Darling says the strength and security of the UK means public spending is higher in Scotland. He accuses Alex Salmond of running a "scare" campaign about what is happening to the NHS in England.

  6. Analysis - NHSpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Emily Craig
    Political analyst, BBC News

    Alex Salmond says Scotland doesn't have "financial control" of the NHS. The Scottish budget is decided by the 'Barnett formula'. This means that when the UK government decides to change the level of spending in a devolved area, the Scottish government's Budget is adjusted in proportion.

    However, the Scottish government can allocate money wherever it chooses. So even if the UK government did decide to spend less on health, the Scottish government could maintain or increase its spending on the NHS provided it found the money elsewhere. But there would be pressure on other areas of its budget.

  7. Analysis - currencypublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Andrew Black
    Political reporter, BBC Scotland

    Both sides are sticking to their guns, unsurprisingly, on currency. Mr Darling again asks Mr Salmond for a currency Plan B, saying there's no will for the UK parties to make a currency union work.

    The first minister says his plan is in the best interests of an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK.

  8. Oil revenuespublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    @YesScotland, external: Why do the No campaign think oil is a massive burden for Scotland, but a tremendous asset for every other country in the world? #bbcindyref

    @theSNP, external: Wood's North Sea downgrade forecast dismissed by Oil & Gas UK #indyref

    @SkyNews, external: "Oil and gas revenues are very unpredictable and expected to decline over the long term." Via @FullFact #IndyRef

  9. NHS figures - last 5 yearspublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    NHS budget
  10. Analysis - trade within the UKpublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Emily Craig
    Political analyst, BBC News

    Alex Salmond has been talking about trade. He says the UK is Scotland's biggest export market and Scotland is the second largest market for the rest of the UK.

    The figures back him up. Scottish government statistics, external suggest 65% of Scottish exports were destined for the rest of the UK in 2012. (That's excluding oil and gas, which is counted as a UK export.)

    Meanwhile the UK Treasury says Scotland is second biggest market for the rest of the UK, after the United States.

  11. Still on currencypublished at 21:00 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Mr Salmond says Scotland will take a fair share of the UK debt if it gets a currency union.

    Mr Darling is asked what he would choose as "plan B". He refuses to choose one. He says the current arrangement with the pound sterling within the UK is the best option.

  12. The poundpublished at 21:00 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Mr Salmond asks if the people of Scotland back the plan to keep the pound sterling would Mr Darling accept that?

    Mr Darling says the pound sterling only works if you have a political and monetary union.

    The Scottish first minister says that if Scotland is denied the assets of the Bank of England, it will be denied the liabilities. Scotland will not have to pay about £5bn to service the current debt, he says.

    Debate live

    Mr Darling denies that Scotland will lose its liabilities for UK debt if it does not get a currency union. But Mr Salmond says the UK Treasury has admitted liability for the debt.

  13. Get involvedpublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Lynne Brown, external: I appreciate apprehension re currency but should we trust Darling? He was involved in running the show when the banks crashed #bbcindyref

    Nick Turner, external: This mandate Salmond keeps mentioning is gibberish. #bbcindyref

  14. Currency - your viewspublished at 20:55 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Iain Nelson, external: 68% of people in England against a currency union with Scotland. That's about as popular as joining the Euro. #bbcindyref

    Clare Clarke, external: Salmond is the better orator once again. #bbcindyref #ScotlandDecides #ScotDecides

    STV's Claire Stewart, external: I feel quite sorry for Panama!

  15. Analysispublished at 20:54 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Andrew Black
    Political reporter, BBC Scotland

    The debate gets straight into currency, one of the biggest issues in this campaign. Again we hear the argument from Mr Salmond that an independent Scotland is perfectly entitled to use the pound. Mr Darling says the Scottish government's preferred currency union deal won't work.

  16. Currency union?published at 20:53 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Mr Salmond said he was seeking a "mandate" (a word he has used a few times already tonight) to keep the pound sterling in a currency union. He says he would not go into a negotiation with something that was "second best".

    Salmond and Darling debate

    Mr Darling says a currency union would be bad for Scotland because the country's budget would have to be approved by what would be a foreign country. The Better Together leader is back to asking Mr Salmond what his plan B is on the currency.

  17. Analysis - oil revenuespublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Emily Craig
    Political analyst, BBC News

    Alistair Darling says UK revenues from North Sea oil and gas are "volatile" and were £5bn less than expected last year.

    Scottish government statistics, external show there was indeed a drop in UK revenue of around £4.4bn - from £10bn to £5.6bn. As Mr Darling says, £4.4bn is around half of the annual Scottish health budget, external.

  18. Pens poised...published at 20:51 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Louise Sayers
    BBC Scotland

    From the get-go voters James Bream, George Paterson and Maureen Paterson have been taking notes...

    Undecided voters in Aberdeen
  19. Question two - the currencypublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 25 August 2014

    Second question.

    "What currency will use if we don't use sterling?"

    The audience member, Kathy, wants a "definitive" answer