Summary

  • Scotland's main political leaders took part in the first of two BBC Scotland debates ahead of the 7 May General Election

  • Scottish Labour's Jim Murphy; Willie Rennie for the Scottish Liberal Democrats; the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson for the Scottish Tories answered questions

  • They were joined by Patrick Harvie, joint leader for the Scottish Green Party, and David Coburn, Scotland's UKIP spokesman

  • The debate took place before an audience gathered at Elphinstone Hall in Aberdeen

  1. The endpublished at 22:00 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    And that's the end of the debate. Thanks for joining us!

  2. 'A disgrace'published at 22:00 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Ms Sturgeon attacks Mr Coburn's "narrow-minded" attitude and says he is a disgrace. Ms Davidson supports the comments, but says the UK can still get a better deal out of Europe.

  3. Via Twitterpublished at 21:59 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Peter Owen tweets, external: Sturgeon is getting a real reality check tonight. #leadersdebate

    Debs tweets, external: #leadersdebate Jim you were asked about joining forces with SNP... no answer

  4. 'Leave EU'published at 21:58 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Mr Coburn says it's time to leave the EU, because 70% of decisions which affect the UK are made by an unelected commission.

  5. Choice of twopublished at 21:55 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Mr Murphy says the election is a choice between a Labour government and a Tory government.

  6. 'Break up UK'published at 21:55 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Mr Coburn says his party would be against anyone wanting to "break up" the UK. Ms Sturgeon says she's relieved that she's not in agreement with UKIP.

  7. Horse tradingpublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Ms Sturgeon says you can change the policy direction of governments without bringing them down. Mr Murphy says the way to avoid the horse trading is by voting Labour. (Ms Davidson says the same goes for her party).

  8. Via Twitterpublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Brian Mathuna tweets, external: Lib dem guy has a great sense of humour tbf to him. Dark humour about damage tuition fees did. #leadersdebate

  9. Postpublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Ms Sturgeon says the SNP won't vote for further spending cuts in the next parliament or back a replacement for Trident nuclear weapons.

  10. Triple lockpublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Ms Sturgeon says there is a "triple lock" on independence - "material change", its insertion in the 2016 manifesto and the vote itself.

  11. 'Dragged from EU'published at 21:51 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Ms Sturgeon says this election is not about another independence referendum. She said something "material" would have to change, like the Tories trying to "drag" Scotland out of Europe, for example.

  12. Via Twitterpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Paula McNulty tweets, external: Is there still time to set up a new party to vote for? So uninspired by this chat & seriously question the hashtag accuracy -#leadersdebate

  13. INFORMATIONpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    What's the background to the Scottish independence referendum?

    • The Scottish independence referendum took place on 18 September last year.

    • The question asked was: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

    • When all votes were counted, the result was 55% against independence and 45% for independence.

  14. Independence referendumpublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Ms Davidson says she's committed to the UK. She says she would not block another independence referendum, but adds the SNP says it was a once in a generation event.

  15. Via Twitterpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Gavia Baker-Whitelaw tweets, external: The Scottish #leadersdebate is soooo much better than than the UK-wide one. Much less condescension/false posturing, I think??

  16. 'Stay the course'published at 21:45 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Mr Rennie makes clear that he said sorry for the Lib Dem U-turn on tuition fees, but says once again the country must stay the course on economic recovery.

  17. Via Emailpublished at 21:44 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Jimmy Laing

    Interestingly no one mentioned the over taxation of the oil industry during the oil debate.

  18. Big companiespublished at 21:44 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Patrick Harvie

    Mr Harvie asked if the Greens are saying they won't support a government which is in favour of capitalism. He says big companies are controlling many services, and that needs to change.

  19. Via Emailpublished at 21:41 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Jackie Mackay

    Conservatives and Lib Dems and Labour say we have the fastest growing economy and the lowest unemployment rate, yet the wages are down and the public sector workers have had no real pay rise in several years yet have sneaked taxes added into our superannuated pensions. If the wages don't go up then surely circulating cash falls, therefore businesses suffer.

  20. Via Twitterpublished at 21:40 British Summer Time 8 April 2015

    Andrew Picken tweets, external: Fair play to @BBCJamesCook for calling out the awful jargon which plagues Scottish politics #leadersdebate