Summary

  • PLEASE SCROLL DOWN DOWN FOR TEXT COVERAGE OF THE DEBATE

  • The SNP's Nicola Sturgeon; Scottish Labour's Kezia Dugdale and the Scottish Conservative's Ruth Davidson answered questions in the final TV debate before 5 May

  • Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie and Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie were also taking part

  • The debate was held before a live audience of voters at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry

  1. Ruth Davidson says what her party would do with the NHSpublished at 20:40 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    She tells the audience that there is an NHS guarantee in her manifesto that NHS funding will rise by 2% or by inflation or by Barnett consequentials - whichever is higher. 

    Ms Davidson says mental health will be a priority and GP services will receive more funding under her party.

    She says her party will bring back prescription charges for 10% of them, leaving 90% free. 

  2. Question Threepublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Health budgetImage source, bbc
  3. Ruth Davidson says there should be a commitment in a manifesto before a mandate can be given for a second referendumpublished at 20:36 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Ms Davidson says all Ms Sturgeon has to do to bring the country together is to a second referendum is off the table for the next parliament, which would provide stability.

    Ms Sturgeon says if there is no change in opinion and Scotland is not ripped out of Europe against its will then it will not be on the table.

    However, the SNP leader says if a majority of people in Scotland want a referendum then they should get it. 

  4. Postpublished at 20:34 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

  5. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson says there is no mandate to call a second referendumpublished at 20:32 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Ms Davidson says Ms Sturgeon has responsibilities to all of Scotland not just the SNP.

    She says Ms Sturgeon "should not be keeping this wound open".

    Ms Davidson says the SNP leader has gone back on her promises of once in a lifetime, once in a generation. 

  6. Postpublished at 20:32 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

  7. Patrick Harvie says his party will campaign for another yes vote in a new referendumpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    The Scottish Green Party co-convener says we should respect the result of the referendum, but respecting the result also means respecting that a substantial number did vote for independence.

    He says the opportunity to continue to debate this is clear.

    Mr Harvie says the great mass of people in Scotland are capable of having this debate in a mature way.

  8. Willie Rennie: 'We cannot have a groundhog day about independence'published at 20:29 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Debate

    The Scottish Lib Dem leader says many areas like education, mental health, climate change and civil liberties have been neglected for the last five years.

    Did they not get the message, says Mr Rennie, saying to Ms Sturgeon she is "anti-democratic".

  9. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon says the issue is rooted in democracypublished at 20:28 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    She says if she cannot persuade people that independence is the right option she will not have earned the right to ask the question again.

    However, she says if Scotland is ripped out of Europe against its will or the majority of Scots back independence then no politician has the right to stand in the way.

    Ms Sturgeon says it is ultimately down to the will of the Scottish people "what is so frightening about that".

  10. Kezia Dugdale: 'Referendum was once in a lifetime'published at 20:26 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    The Scottish Labour leader says it's not even 20 months that have passed since the referendum and she believed Nicola Sturgeon when she said it was a once in a lifetime, once in a generation opportunity.

    She says Ms Sturgeon is trying to pull the wool over people's eyes.

    Ms Dugdale says Ms Sturgeon says "we should trust the pollsters" and if we trusted them Ed Miliband would be prime minister.

  11. Question Two on independencepublished at 20:22 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Referendum question
  12. Heated debate over the future of jobs on the Clydepublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Sturgeon and Davidson

    Kezia Dugdale accuses Ruth Davidson of telling a porky about the work on the Clyde saying there is an 18 month delay.

    Ruth Davidson says the Clyde must not be reliant only on the MOD for contracts.

    Nicola Sturgeon again says there is an 18 month delay, to which Ms Davidson says the SNP has been shameful on this issue.

    Ms Sturgeon says the unions and workers are furious that promises have not been kept.

    A stramash between the two develops.

  13. Mr Rennie presses his Green opponent on North Sea job lossespublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Willie Rennie

    Willie Rennie asks what Patrick is going to say to the 150,000 people who will lose their jobs in the North Sea.

    Mr Harvie says he does not want to leave those over exposed to the same limbo as Longannet and that is why sustainable jobs are vital. 

  14. Scottish Green Party co-convener agrees education needs more investment.published at 20:17 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Partick Harvie says the argument for an energy transition is key.

    He says his party will bring relentless pressure to bear to increase public investment.

    The Scottish Green Party co-convener says quality employment, as well as quantity, is crucial.

  15. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader talks of growth and opportunitypublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Willie Rennie says a magnet must be created in this country for businesses to invest, to attract growth and opportunity.

    He says education must be built up to be the best again and that requires investment for the future.

    In order to do that "we need to put a modest penny on income tax", he says.

    The priority must be the early years, he adds.

  16. Trident and the issue of jobs is tackled by the Scottish Labour leaderpublished at 20:14 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Kezia Dugdale

    Ms Dugdale says her party opposes the renewal of Trident - but adds thousands of jobs are reliant on that base.

    That is why alternative jobs must be provided for these people via a diversification agency, insists the Scottish Labour leader.

    She says her party's opposition of Trident is reliant on providing these jobs. 

  17. Ms Dugdale makes her pitch for how new jobs can be createdpublished at 20:13 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale says "we have to invest" in the skills and development of our people.

    Ms Dugdale says her party will use the tax powers of the parliament to raise more money for education to create the jobs necessary.

  18. Ms Davidson reacts to claims of job losses on the Clydepublished at 20:11 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    The Scottish Tory leader says she has spoken to the defence secretary and has been assured there is no change since last year.

    Ms Sturgeon insists there is a delay and it is an absolute betrayal.

    The Scottish Conservative leader comes back and says there would be no ships built on the Clyde if there was independence.

  19. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson cites business groups saying SNP's policies are damaging for businesspublished at 20:09 British Summer Time 1 May 2016

    Ms Davidson adds that one in seven business will be hit by a doubling of the business rates.

    She says her party will make sure there are "never taxes higher here" than the rest of the UK.

    The Scottish Conservative leader says her party will not increase business rates.