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Alistair Darling says case for independent Scotland is floundering Alistair Darling says case for independent Scotland is floundering
(35 minutes later)
The case for an independent Scotland is "floundering", Alistair Darling has said, as a range of polls showed that voters favour staying in the UK a year before the referendum. With a year to go before the Scottish referendum, the case for an independence is floundering, Alistair Darling has said, as a range of polls showed that voters favour staying in the UK.
Darling, who is leading the Better Together campaign, insisted he was not "complacent" but said the nationalists do not appear to have the answers. Darling, who is leading the Better Together campaign, insisted he was not complacent but said the nationalists do not appear to have the answers.
But Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy first minister of Scotland, said the country can "more than afford" to take the "once in a lifetime opportunity" of independence. But Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy first minister of Scotland, said the country could more than afford to take the "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" of independence.
With one year to go before the vote, a YouGov poll for the Times showed that 52% of people in Scotland back staying in the UK, while 32% are in favour of leaving. Another survey by Progressive Public Opinion for the Scottish Daily Mail put the gap at 59% to 29%.With one year to go before the vote, a YouGov poll for the Times showed that 52% of people in Scotland back staying in the UK, while 32% are in favour of leaving. Another survey by Progressive Public Opinion for the Scottish Daily Mail put the gap at 59% to 29%.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Darling denied running a negative campaign, saying it was the nationalists who were in favour of walking away.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Darling denied running a negative campaign, saying it was the nationalists who were in favour of walking away.
He also said he did not think the prospect of Tory success in the 2015 elections would have much of an impact on the result.He also said he did not think the prospect of Tory success in the 2015 elections would have much of an impact on the result.
"It doesn't actually make much difference, because I think people in Scotland can distinguish between a general election when you vote in a party and if you don't like them you kick them out, and a referendum where, remember, the nationalists only have to win once by one vote and there's no going back," he said."It doesn't actually make much difference, because I think people in Scotland can distinguish between a general election when you vote in a party and if you don't like them you kick them out, and a referendum where, remember, the nationalists only have to win once by one vote and there's no going back," he said.
He also repeated his challenge to Alex Salmond, the first minister, to have a television debate, saying he wanted to challenge him on many issues.He also repeated his challenge to Alex Salmond, the first minister, to have a television debate, saying he wanted to challenge him on many issues.
"They used to say sterling was a millstone around Scotland's neck; now they say they want to keep it," he said. "On Europe, on pensions, welfare, defence, there's a whole string of questions which I'm entitled to ask them about.""They used to say sterling was a millstone around Scotland's neck; now they say they want to keep it," he said. "On Europe, on pensions, welfare, defence, there's a whole string of questions which I'm entitled to ask them about."
Sturgeon, speaking on the same programme, said she hoped the prime minister, David Cameron, would agree to debate the issue with Salmond after she was questioned about why the first minister would not do the same with Darling.Sturgeon, speaking on the same programme, said she hoped the prime minister, David Cameron, would agree to debate the issue with Salmond after she was questioned about why the first minister would not do the same with Darling.
She said the case was "simple" that decisions about Scotland should be taken in Scotland. She said the case was simple that decisions about Scotland should be taken in Scotland.
She also said that the SNP is making a good economic argument for independence. She also said that the SNP was making a good economic argument for independence.
"We're one of the wealthiest countries in the world, we more than pay our way," she said. "If you take each and every one of the past 30 years we've generated more tax per head than the UK as a whole. So there's no doubt Scotland can be independent." "We're one of the wealthiest countries in the world; we more than pay our way," she said. "If you take each and every one of the past 30 years we've generated more tax per head than the UK as a whole. So there's no doubt Scotland can be independent."
However, the SNP received a blow from its own side as a former adviser to Salmond criticised the "tired" and "tedious" independence campaign. However, the SNP received a blow from its own side as a former adviser to Salmond criticised the independence campaign as being tired and tedious.
Writing for the Guardian, Alex Bell said the party has not yet produced enough of a "profound assessment that will persuade minds".Writing for the Guardian, Alex Bell said the party has not yet produced enough of a "profound assessment that will persuade minds".
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