Independence, the biggest threat to the union and the PM bottles out of a TV debate?
It would be quite a legacy for this PM, should the union divide.
BBC News - Scottish independence: David Cameron will not have TV debate with Alex Salmond
It would be quite a legacy for this PM, should the union divide.
BBC News - Scottish independence: David Cameron will not have TV debate with Alex Salmond
David Cameron has confirmed he will not have a TV debate on Scottish independence with Alex Salmond.
The prime minister has written to Scotland's first minister rejecting his invitation for a head-to-head showdown.
Mr Salmond has argued that, as first minister of Scotland, he should face the prime minister of the UK.
But Mr Cameron said the first minister should instead face Alistair Darling, head of the pro-Union campaign group Better Together.
The people of Scotland will vote in the independence referendum on 18 September next year.
They will be asked the straight yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Mr Salmond had previously urged Mr Cameron to join him in a televised debate, arguing that the prime minister was so central in the campaign to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom that a refusal would be neither consistent nor credible.
In his letter to the first minister, David Cameron agreed there should be television debates ahead of the referendum.
He said Mr Darling, the former Chancellor, had been asked by all of the pro-UK parties in Scotland to lead the campaign, and that while it was entirely right for Mr Salmond to place himself at the head of the Yes campaign in favour of independence, he should not decide who should lead the No campaign too.
The prime minister said: "It is a well understood and reasonable principle that you get to pick your own team's captain, but not your opponent's as well."
He also said: "It is time for the two campaigns and the broadcasters to meet and start working to make these debates happen."
The prime minister has written to Scotland's first minister rejecting his invitation for a head-to-head showdown.
Mr Salmond has argued that, as first minister of Scotland, he should face the prime minister of the UK.
But Mr Cameron said the first minister should instead face Alistair Darling, head of the pro-Union campaign group Better Together.
The people of Scotland will vote in the independence referendum on 18 September next year.
They will be asked the straight yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Mr Salmond had previously urged Mr Cameron to join him in a televised debate, arguing that the prime minister was so central in the campaign to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom that a refusal would be neither consistent nor credible.
In his letter to the first minister, David Cameron agreed there should be television debates ahead of the referendum.
He said Mr Darling, the former Chancellor, had been asked by all of the pro-UK parties in Scotland to lead the campaign, and that while it was entirely right for Mr Salmond to place himself at the head of the Yes campaign in favour of independence, he should not decide who should lead the No campaign too.
The prime minister said: "It is a well understood and reasonable principle that you get to pick your own team's captain, but not your opponent's as well."
He also said: "It is time for the two campaigns and the broadcasters to meet and start working to make these debates happen."
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