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Scottish independence: Both sides claim TV debate victory Scottish independence: Darling and Salmond reflect on TV clash
(35 minutes later)
Both sides of the independence debate have insisted their side came out on top in the TV head to head between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling. Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling have reflected on their head-to-head TV clash, ahead of the Scottish independence referendum.
The Yes campaign claimed Mr Salmond did more to win over undecided voters on whether an independent Scotland would be a fairer society. The Scottish first minister accused his rival of "shouting and pointing" during the two-hour programme.
But Better Together said the debate highlighted Mr Salmond's lack of a Plan B on what currency Scotland would use. Mr Darling, leader of the campaign for a "No" vote in the 18 September referendum, said Mr Salmond failed to answer key questions.
The STV debate came six weeks ahead of the 18 September vote. Both sides insisted their man came out on top in Tuesday's STV debate.
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, a leading figure in the Better Together campaign, told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme the debate was a "hugely significant, perhaps decisive" moment in the campaign. Key moments of the debate included Mr Darling being asked 21 times if he agreed with David Cameron that it was possible for Scotland to be a "successful independent country".
He said: "Alistair Darling was asking the questions that millions of us, as Scots, are wanting the answers to, most notably 'what would the currency be? Mr Darling's repeated questioning of Alex Salmond's currency plans for an independent Scotland elicited the biggest response on social media, with more than 2,000 tweets during that segment of the debate.
"We know the capital would be Edinburgh, we know the flag would be the Saltire - but we still don't know what the currency would be with just six weeks to go." Speaking the day after the clash, Mr Salmond hit out at the former UK chancellor's debating style.
He added: "It seems this morning that a new definition of scaremongering is asking the first minister a question he can't answer." "Shouting and pointing, trying to debate in that fashion is not what wins you elections or referendums," the first minister told the BBC.
The Yes campaign's chief executive Blair Jenkins claimed Better Together's "Project Fear" style of campaigning meant they were unable to accept Scotland could be a prosperous independent country. "To win, you've got to discuss and have a conversation with people across a range of issues - and in the immortal words of Zsa Zsa Gabor, 'macho men ain't mucho'."
He said: "Alistair Darling could not bring himself to use the word 'Yes' in answer to the question 'Could Scotland be a successful independent country?'
"So negative is the No campaign it seems that they have excised the word 'Yes' from any possible usage.
"This referendum is going to be won in the millions of conversations going on around Scotland right now and over the next six weeks.
"We have the more active and more numerous volunteers. We know we are going to win this on every street and every doorstep."
Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editorAnalysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor
How to sum up the televised encounter? Today, away from the eager vacuity of spin, Alex Salmond turned to a great icon of the 20th century for inspiration.How to sum up the televised encounter? Today, away from the eager vacuity of spin, Alex Salmond turned to a great icon of the 20th century for inspiration.
Gandhi perhaps? JFK? Nelson Mandela? Not quite.Gandhi perhaps? JFK? Nelson Mandela? Not quite.
Mr Salmond's guru of choice was Zsa Zsa Gabor.Mr Salmond's guru of choice was Zsa Zsa Gabor.
The FM's view of his opponent, Alistair Darling, was that "macho doesn't prove mucho". The FM's view of his opponent, Alistair Darling, was that macho doesn't prove mucho.
Apparently, Mr Salmond reckons that finger-jabbing repetition of a question about "Currency Plan B" does not a debate make.Apparently, Mr Salmond reckons that finger-jabbing repetition of a question about "Currency Plan B" does not a debate make.
Which, when you think about it, is rather intriguing, given that the common presumption in advance was that it was Mr Darling who should fear hectoring from t'other side.Which, when you think about it, is rather intriguing, given that the common presumption in advance was that it was Mr Darling who should fear hectoring from t'other side.
Read more from Brian.Read more from Brian.
Mr Darling, a Scottish Labour MP, said he hoped the debate would help people make their minds up, but that, with six weeks to go, there was no clarity on what currency an independent Scotland would use.
The Scottish government backs a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK, which would involve keeping the pound, but Westminster party leaders said they would not support such a move.
Mr Darling said: "Issues like the currency, issues that will affect people's lives, what they can spend, how much they can save - we need answers on that.
"Basically, the nationalists are running out of arguments and they're running out of time in which to make those arguments."
Following the debate, the Yes Scotland campaign for independence claimed Mr Salmond did more to win over undecided voters on whether an independent Scotland would be a fairer society.
But Better Together, for the Union, said the debate highlighted Mr Salmond's lack of a Plan B on what currency Scotland would use if it could not retain the pound.
Yes Scotland boss Blair Jenkins claimed Better Together's "Project Fear" style of campaigning meant they were unable to accept Scotland could be a prosperous independent country.
He said: "So negative is the No campaign it seems that they have excised the word 'Yes' from any possible usage."
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, a leading figure in the Better Together campaign, told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme the debate was a "hugely significant, perhaps decisive" moment in the campaign.
He said: "It seems this morning that a new definition of scaremongering is asking the first minister a question he can't answer."
A snapshot ICM/Guardian poll of 512 people immediately after the two-hour live debate found a majority thought Alistair Darling had fared better.A snapshot ICM/Guardian poll of 512 people immediately after the two-hour live debate found a majority thought Alistair Darling had fared better.
More than 56% thought Mr Darling came out on top while 44% thought Mr Salmond won.More than 56% thought Mr Darling came out on top while 44% thought Mr Salmond won.
However, Blair Jenkins insisted another ICM question showed Mr Salmond made greater strides at convincing undecided voters to back independence. However, Mr Jenkins insisted another ICM question showed Mr Salmond made greater strides at convincing undecided voters to back independence.
He said: "As we all know, the question on 18 September is not who do you like best - Alex Salmond or Alistair Darling.
"It's should Scotland be an independent country. And the movement from the ICM poll was towards Yes.
"What people saw laid out very starkly last night was the story of this referendum, the story of two very different campaigns.
"The ICM poll shows very clearly that the movement during the debate was towards Yes. The swing was towards Yes.
"Among the don't knows the ICM poll showed, by a majority of two to one, those who made up their mind in the course of the debate moved to Yes."
Find out what Scotland's newspapers made of the debate.
Douglas Alexander said Alistair Darling had highlighted the issues that Scots were talking about "around the breakfast table, at their workplaces and at school gates".
He said: "A female audience member last night said, we deserve better than 'It'll Be Alright On The Night'.
"What I found remarkable was that for someone as skilled a debater as Alex Salmond, the answers were not forthcoming."
Key moments of the debate included Mr Darling being asked 21 times if he agreed with David Cameron that it was possible for Scotland to be a "successful independent country".
Alistair Darling's repeated questioning of Alex Salmond's currency plans for an independent Scotland elicited the biggest response on social media, with more than 2,000 tweets during that segment of the debate.
A total of 186,267 tweets were sent overall throughout the show on STV. A number of people expressed frustration at technical problems that interrupted the broadcaster's live online streaming of the event.A total of 186,267 tweets were sent overall throughout the show on STV. A number of people expressed frustration at technical problems that interrupted the broadcaster's live online streaming of the event.
The BBC had asked for permission to stream the debate live online and use it on other platforms, but the request was declined by STV.
A second debate is to take place on the BBC later this month.A second debate is to take place on the BBC later this month.
Find out what Scotland's newspapers made of the debate.