Chaos over date for TV debate
TALKS over the first TV debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling collapsed last night amid a furious row between the two camps.
Better Together chiefs reacted furiously after STV indicated it was willing to change the date of the TV clash to accommodate the First Minister. It accused the broadcaster of ‘rolling over’ and said Mr Darling will instead be available for a BBC debate in August.
The row comes after Mr Salmond conceded defeat at the weekend in his battle to go face-toface with Prime Minister David Cameron.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘Should the Prime Minister continue to duck this debate, the First Minister is willing to take on Alistair Darling as the Tories’ nominated substitute.’
As a result, Mr Darling accepted an invitation from STV for a live debate from Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms on July 16.
But Mr Salmond’s strategists pressed for a date after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which end on August 3. Last night, it emerged that STV is ‘reviewing’ the proposed date as a result.
A Better Together insider said: ‘This is astonishing stuff. STV told us that they would not negotiate on the date of this debate. They were emphatic that the date would not change. That hardline stance lasted until Salmond decided that, even although he was free on that date, he didn’t fancy debating Alistair.
‘STV have simply rolled over. It is not on. We were told July 16, take it or leave it – and we took it. As far as we are concerned, that’s that.’
The insider added: ‘We are desperate to have this debate. The public are desperate for it. The only person stopping it happening is Alex Salmond – but he can’t run away for ever. We have accepted an invitation from the BBC for a debate on August 12. We hope this one goes ahead.’
A spokesman for the First Minister said: ‘This outburst at STV from the No campaign shows they are rattled and fraying at the edges. Our position is clear and has been throughout. We will pursue the Prime Minister for a head-tohead debate on STV’s proposed date of July 16 or in advance of the Commonwealth Games.
‘The only thing stopping a debate on that date is David Cameron’s refusal to step up to the plate. If he continues to duck the debate, we will take on Alistair Darling after the Commonwealth Games. We are grateful to the No Campaign for drawing attention to the fact the Prime Minister is feart of debating Alex Salmond.’
STV was planning a debate in front of 500 people hosted by political editor Bernard Ponsonby.
An STV spokesman said: ‘ STV i s firmly committed to staging a live TV debate between the First Minister and Alistair Darling. We have not received agreement from both sides on the proposed date of July 16 and are reviewing the proposed date on that basis.’
A BBC spokesman said: ‘We have bid for Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling for a debate in Inverness, hosted by James Cook, on August 12.’