Radio 1's Big Conversation Scotland Decides

Glasgow for the Radio 1 Big Conversation. Posted by Edith Bowman

and Chris Smith. `` posted. This is BBC radio one. The Big Conversation.

Scotland Decides. But Edith Bowman and Chris Smith, live from Glasgow.

`` with Edith Bowman. This Thursday the future of the UK is decided. It

is the biggest vote of our lifetime. Should Scotland be an independent

country? If most people vote yes, Scotland will become independent but

if they vote no, it remains part of the UK. We will discuss and explain

the moment that will go down in history and in broadcasting for

Radio 1, we are live on the BBC News Channel. The last of these big

debates. With us in this beautiful venue we have 150 16`24 `year`olds,

many have made their minds up. Some have only just decided and a few of

them still have not made their mind up. We have divided the audience

into sections. We have the yes, no and undecided. As we will explore,

many of those who don't know or already going one way or the other

but it is important to see that the audience is completely balanced

between yes and no. My name is Safran and I am 16 and I have been a

political activist since I was six years old. I believe in independence

because the Scottish people deserve to live in a democratic society with

the government they vote for and the only way is through independence!

My name is Matthew and I am 19 years old and from London. I do not know

which way this will go but I know that whatever the outcome, this will

affect young people like myself in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and

the rest of the UK. Thank you very much. Quickly back there because you

had a problem with your microphone. You can do your piece. I am 22 and a

student and I believe that we should vote no to maintain the union and we

have ploughed our resources into this for thousands of years.

Involving key issues like the currency, job security and EU

membership. I am Scottish and British and we are Better Together.

34 hours left until the polling opens and we're here for the next

hour to answer your questions as well but only if you can let us see

them. Please text us. There are two different campaigns to get the vote

and yes Scotland supports independence and Better Together,

which believes Scotland is better off as part of the UK and we have

both sides with us. Danny Alexander represents Better Together, you

might know him already. He is a live them politician and the Chief

Secretary to the Treasury. And for the yes campaign, a member of the

Scottish Parliament, representing the Scottish national party. And

with us, someone who has followed every twist and turn of this

campaign, our correspondent, Laura Bicker. A round of applause.

APPLAUSE. We will hear from those three but

more importantly, from the audience because that is what this is about.

Better start off with a quick look at the main issues at the heart of

this delayed. `` debate. And that has been one of the biggest

topics in this. If it becomes independent, will Scotland be able

to keep the pound and other economic issues? We will head across to the

yes side. I am Escott and 19 years old and basically, in terms of the

currency union, we heard from Better Together and George Osborne and I do

not think we should listen to one word he says, he is a Westminster

politician with an agenda and the only authority with the legitimacy

to say whether Scotland can keep the pound will be the Bank of England or

an act of Parliament and we have not had that because we live in a

democracy and not a dictatorship. My name is Brad and I am from Falkirk

and I disagree. First and foremost, we are better at being together, we

have strong partnerships and were able to have a currency that you

know what is happening, if you are independent is no guarantee you will

get the pound or any currency union and that is one of my concerns. If

independence goes ahead, I run a production company and do lots of

work and stuff and that could ruin my distance. That is one of my main

concerns. What we have not heard is any comprehensive argument from

Westminster as to why we would not be able to keep the pound? I am not

an economist but common sense dictates that at least in the

immediate interim it would make sense to at least share the currency

and is Alex Salmond says, it is Scotland's currency as much as

England, we have built this together and the Bank of England was founded

by a Scotsman. It does not make sense. We will come to Danny

Alexander in a second. I think the yes campaign made to step away from

what they believe because the Bank of England says that a currency

union is not compatible with an independent Scotland and we have

three options, have our own currency with no value in the global market,

we have a currency governed by the Bank of England so they can set the

interest rate or we join the euro, what would you prefer? The Bank of

England actually has not spoken on this, it is a Chancellor who said we

will not get a union with no power. Scotland's largest marketers England

and England's second largest in Scotland so it makes no sense and

transaction fees and real term money to not have any union, it makes no

sense. When it comes to uncertainty, what about the guaranty powers that

Mr Alexander's party has pledged? Just like free tuition fees? What

credibility can we base the vote on when your party could not even keep

that? That makes no sense that you will not make the decision in the,

who do you think the Bank of England will be influenced by? The

Chancellor or you? I have a question, if we don't get the

currency and we have our own currency, what will the MPEG Dionne

people like myself who want to buy houses and raise families? `` the

impact be on people like myself. I am common sense of the few don't

believe me, don't believe Danny, just look at the common`sense, and

that dictates that it would make sense to have it currency, it makes

sense for transactions and travel but let us say that the UK

government cuts off its nose to spite its face and despite all of

that, all of that, we will not have any currency union. There are other

options, including using the pound without any currency union, we would

have zero debt, which is not a bad thing. No currency has ever become

independent starting with zero debt and the UK has ?1.3 trillion. We

could create our own currency and the point is this, their use 100

mile P3 countries in the UN and in Glasgow we just had the Commonwealth

Games, countries that seceded from the British and they all find an

option that have suited them, why is that Scotland, inventors of the

modern world, intelligent people, can be too much of a basket case not

to have their own currency? If you ask Danny Alexander, I know he does

not believe in independence and that is fine but if Scotland chooses

independence, you have had 2.5 years to think about this, what currency

would you like for an independent Scotland? Nobody from the no camp as

ever and so bad. Common sense would dictate that Scotland will have a

currency and a currency union. How would that impact on things like

buying houses and taxes? Yes... So, we promised many things in terms of

taxes and the point of independence is to have all of the tax and

economic levers so it does not matter if we have a currency union

with the UK, that means we can do things like creating 27,000 jobs for

young people and writing the constitution to protect the NHS,

saying we want to increase the minimum wage by inflation and giving

a living wage and protecting free education. Those are the powers I

want for your generation. Danny Alexander, you can maybe answer

that? I want to keep the pound for Scotland and the only way to do that

is to keep the UK together, that is the simple point I want to make. And

there are good reasons for that. Scotland would be a new state with

our own economic Holocene and would go in a different election with

serious financial problems and one of the things you need as a new

state is all other leaders to control that economy and in any

currency union you don't have the power to set interest rates and

exchange registered conditions, you would bind your hands on raising tax

and spending and I don't think that counts as independents, and for the

rest of the UK, I speak as a Scot with my own vote in this and I want

Scotland to do the best that can but for the rest of the UK, you must

think, a currency union means they would have to take risks in Scotland

that would have no control over policies. Like the Eurozone,

countries who have seen risks spreading from one to the other so

the best thing for Scotland is to keep the pound but the only way to

make sure that happens is to keep the UK together as well. I want to

bring in Laura Bicker. My job has been done for me because this

audience is well`informed and you have heard some of the options that

an independent Scotland might be able to take and obviously the SNP

in the White Paper would like a currency union, it is the first

option, plan a but many people over this campaign have shouted for plan

be. The SNP is not the only party looking for independence, there are

others in the yes campaign, the Green party would really like

Scotland to have its own currency and that is another option that

certainly others would like to look at, including Jim Sellers, the

former deputy leader of the SNP. And they do have the option of using the

pound, with this currency union, but as Danny Alexander pointed out, that

would, without control over what the Bank of England had to say about

controlling what the pound does and that includes interest rates and

mortgage. Over to the yes side. I am Nicole and 17 and from Glasgow.

Regarding the currency, using the Scottish pound, at this moment we

see the Scottish bind as a separate currency and it was not separate,

the people in England should be able to accept that from us but they

don't. Why can't we use this as a separate currency?

My question contradicts the yes and no parties. If Scotland were to join

the EU, which I think in the White Paper they intend to do within 18

months, would they join the euro or would they not? Two questions, Danny

would you like to answer the young lady's question first? People in

England should accept Scottish banknotes and if they don't, well,

they should accept them and they have the same value in the UK as

Bank of England notes. My point is that in my hand I have the new ?1

coin that comes out in 2017. I do not want to be the only Scot ever to

hold this currency as the legal tender in my country. I want the

pound for Scotland because it it's a strong currency, it has been built

up over hundreds of years, it is stable and respected over the world.

You can be sure that if we have independence, voting yes on

Thursday, we will not be able to have the pound as our own currency.

The point has been made that other countries like Panama, Ecuador and

so on, have other country's currencies circulating within them

but that comes at a huge economic price. Setting up our own currency

in Scotland is another option, we could have a new currency, but

again, that comes at a real price in terms of exchange rate volatility,

higher interest rates, and costs for businesses like the young man at the

back was referring to. None of these options are better than the current

state of affairs which is why we should keep things as they are as

far as currency goes. To the young man who asked the question about

continuing membership of the EU, yes, we would like to do that but we

would not want to be forced to join the euro. Sweden has been in the EU

for many years, they have not voluntarily join something called

the exchange rate mechanism which you have two be in for two years to

even qualify for the euro. Scotland would be the same in that respect. I

want us to continue our membership of the EU. At the moment you have a

UK Government that Danny is part of that has promised a 2017 euros

referendum. We see Ukip gaining in the polls in Westminster and

England. I do not want Scotland to be isolated outside Europe, I want

us to engage in Europe. You will keep hearing from Danny in the next

45 minutes are more scare stories about pounds and euros and what you

can and can't have. I would say to be brave and realise that Scotland

can and should be successful as a prosperous and independent country

on its own. Was your question answered? Have you

heard the answer to your question? I would like to respond to that. There

are 35 chapters that Scotland would have two discuss with other EU

member states. That includes agriculture, tax, the euro. If

anyone country decides no, where does that leave Scotland? The 35

chapters you talk about, the difference is that Scotland has been

a member of the TEU for more than 45 years. We already comply with that

because we are members of the European Union. My point is that I

want Scotland to be an engaging member, not like the UK which is

distancing and isolating itself and potentially in two years timing

extracting itself from the European Union. Not a single country has said

it will veto Scotland's membership. We have EU citizens living here, we

have the largest oil reserves in the European Union and the largest

coastal water for fisheries as well. It makes common sense for Scotland.

Let's have our own voice at the top table instead of the UK voice

speaking for Scotland. Danny, very quickly. The UK does not have a

policy of the UK having a referendum in 2017. That is a policy of the

Conservative Party. I believe passionately in Scotland staying in

the UK and the UK stained in Europe. I do not want to create barriers for

people working and for any young person in this audience. It is a

myth to say that the terms of membership would be as good as they

are now. A lot of good things have been secured by the UK over the

years, like the rebate, but other things as well that would be

difficult for Scotland to get. I think we would end up in the

European Union, but the Spanish have said tonight they would object to

that so there would be hurdles. The idea that we would go back into the

European Union, instead of having a rebate as we have at the moment,

Scotland pays in for a rebate that they have with England and that is

not a smart position. Chris Smith is getting some really great responses.

Lots of chat online and in the studio. If you want to get in touch,

please do. It will come straight to this screen and you can also get in

touch through Facebook. We have a word cloud of what people are

tweeting with our hashtag. The bigger words are the words that

people are tweeting more. As you would expect, both sides

represented, yes Scotland and better together. This is a trend map of

where people are tweeting. We can see some of those we have had so

far. Who is going to start a Mexican wave

at this hashtag? That would be a first. Would it be better for the

people of Scotland to try the TiVo max offer 45`10 years, it getting

more powers to Holyrood. Is that what is being offered in the event

of a no vote? There is a clear promise from my party and others to

say there would be eight stronger Scottish parliament within the UK if

there is a no vote on Thursday. Everybody wants change in Scotland

for the fastest and safest way to do that is to vote no. Why all or

nothing? You do not have that option on the ballot paper. What you had

two day in this pledge that has been made is like when you forget your

wife's birthday and you are dashing to the petrol station to get the

flowers and chocolates. It is tacky and cheap and does not amount to

much. It is a bit of an after thought. Only now are we getting the

promise of more powers and that is an insult, not a pledge.

Devo max would give Scotland more powers except over defence. The age

group we have here, six teen`24, we can now talk about tuition fees. I'm

17 and I'm from Glasgow and it has come clear to me that Scotland have

student's best interests at heart by having free tuition fees in

education at universities and England do not. I would like to

clarify today by asking my own camp, would tuition fees definitely

be free after independence? A great question. I guarantee that if the

SNP and Scottish government are re`elected as an independent

Scottish government, education would be free. I would go further than

that and say that with the full powers of independence, we would

have a written constitution, and I would say it would be one of the

things that could be discussed for a written constitution. It doesn't

matter if I and the SNP get in, the Liberal Democrats, labour, let's

promise in black`and`white that if Scotland becomes independence there

should be free education. Richard be a right and not a privilege. `` it

should be. Does that extend to students coming in from outside the

UK into Scotland to study as well? Students could come in from England,

because Danny Alexander, and it is interesting... I have the last

pledge that Danny Alexander signed was promising not to raise tuition

fees and we know how that pledge ended up working out. When you have

a pledge, I'd would not accept it's necessarily. But you have a system

that charges students ?9,000 per year. We could not have people

flooding up to Scotland to take the place, but I will give a guarantee

and a promise to every English person listening and watching, if

your government does the right thing, does the honourable thing and

takes away your tuition fees, then you would not have to pay a single

tuition fee here in Scotland either. Danny, do you have a response? The

question on the ballot paper is, do you want to be independent or not?

What does independence mean in this issue? At the moment Scottish

universities, within the United Kingdom, the Scottish Parliament

decided many years ago, before the SNP were in power, to make tuition

free. That was made under a Labour`Liberal Democrat coalition.

They can continue to do that as long as they want, but if Scotland

becomes independent they will not be in to do what they do at the

moment, Scottish universities charge tuition fees to students from

England and if you saw a 10% increase of students coming to

Scottish universities, that would take up places used by Scottish

students. Is that sustainable for Scottish universities? The SNP have

maintained free tuition for university students, but they have

also cut 140,000 places in Scottish universities, places that would be

occupied by young people... And a bit more clarity about education

policy would be very welcome, not least because an independent

Scotland would face huge financial problems from day one meaning none

of the pledges made can be trusted. LAUGHTER

What a cheek! The lady there. I am from the Isle of Skye and I'm 16. I

was going to ask, there is still uncertainty if we stay in the United

Kingdom. There is no certainty we would keep free tuition fees. It is

uncertain both ways so why not vote yes and have the uncertainty in an

independent Scotland? We already have a Scottish

parliament that controls all of Scotland's domestic affairs,

decisions about the health service, education, universities and local

government, already made by elected MSPs. What Scotland would have next

year under legislation already passed would`be new powers to raise

so everybody in work would pay more tax to help fund the work of the

Scottish parliament. The Scottish parliament would have the power to

raise taxes to pay for anything, within the United Kingdom. The

powers already exist. If you care about this issue, it is not a reason

to vote yes. Under a no vote we would continue with that policy we

have at the moment. I'm Elizabeth, 23, from Edinburgh. I had two quick

points. My first point is that university in Scotland is still a

rich man's game, regardless of whether you accept that. I am

thousands and thousands of pounds in debt but friends of mine who come

from a richer background are not. It is folly to believe that just

because you don't have tuition fees it is free. If you believe that you

are massively mistaken. Point two, if Scotland becomes a member of the

European Union, you cannot possibly think you can continue to charge

English and Welsh students. That is ridiculous, insulting and

discriminating. I'm insulted my own Scottish government would continue

to consider such a policy. On the first point, I don't

necessarily disagree with you, that although we have removed tuition

fees, yes, there is more to do in getting more people from the most

deprived backgrounds going to university. In March of this years

the Scottish funding Council more people from deprived backgrounds are

going to university. But we can do more and we can do that by raising

our own revenue instead of getting pocket money from Westminster. There

will be more cuts in year to come. In the EU you have objective

justification, meaning that if you share a land border like we do with

the rest of the UK, and they charge a fee, and we need to protect

Scottish students. My premise is simple, Danny Alexander should do

the right thing and removed tuition fees from students in England, and

that way you would not have to pay fees in Scotland. If I had the

choice I would do it tomorrow, to remove education fees and charges.

But we need to protect it in Scotland to make sure education is a

right and not a privilege. I find it an insult to be lectured by a

Liberal Democrat about breaking promises.

I find it extraordinary that the SNP suggests that the only foreign

country in the European Union against which they would

discriminate in terms of Jewish and fees is the rest of the UK. National

group tuition fees. Other countries have different systems for

contributions to the cost of university education. I want to see

more kids from disadvantaged backgrounds getting to university

and in England we have seen the number of kids from disadvantaged

backgrounds going to university increasing dramatically with more

investment in disadvantaged kids at earlier ages and that is what we

should be investing in. We're not hearing that under the SNP

government. We have to think about all aspects of education. How do you

feel? It is not Danny Alexander lecturing you, it is me and I have

gone to university and I will do my postgraduate in England and he did

not answer my question. Why am I still thousands of pounds in debt?

OK, let us head over... My name is Daniel, I am 20 and my problem is

with the NHS. The Better Together campaign say that the NHS will be

secure that way. But it has been leaked that it has started to be

privatised and weathered a secure with no? `` will it still be secure.

Would you like to go first? The answer is no, the NHS must continue

to be a service provided free to anyone who uses it at the point of

use, fully funded right taxpayer money and in the last 4.5 years we

have increased NHS spending by 4%, by 1% in Scotland so it is a shame

that money has not been passed on here but today in the newspapers we

learned about plans from the SNP government the day after the

referendum to announce another ?450 million of cuts in the NHS in

Scotland and it is pretty striking that we have heard a lot of scare

stories from the yes campaign about the NHS but what they are planning

in secret is to do exactly what they don't want. That is hypocrisy. We

should love and cherish the NHS and supported. You know, in Black and

Whites, there is a bill brought forward by the government that Danny

Alexander is a part of that 49% of the NHS, 49%, almost half of that,

and they leave that 1% away from that, but 49% of the NHS could be

privatised. I do not want this, if you don't believe me, take his

colleague, Andy Burnham, who says that privatisation is happening at a

pace in England and the NHS, like England, must always be free at the

point of use and must remain in public hands and the way to do that

is have a written constitution, in black and white, to say whatever the

government, the NHS will always remain free and public at the point

of use and the Westminster government gives a budget to the

Scottish Parliament to spend and the budget on the NHS is directly a

reflection of how much they spend in England. We know from Danny

Alexander's collie, Andy Burnham, who says there have been cuts in two

out of the last four years in England so let us not rely on the UK

government to protect the NHS. I am from Glasgow, I'm 17 and my point is

about defence. The reason is, I don't understand why my dad and

grandfather and other members of my family have fought and died under

the Union Jack to fight for this country to keep it maintained as the

union, so wide that up when they have risk their lives? `` why make

that up. Nobody should ever take away from the achievements of your

family, my great`grandfather also fought in World War I but that is

not what we are trying to do, we're not making ourselves off to drift

off into the North Sea, we will be the best of our lies with the rest

of the UK. I want our own defence force because I don't want to be

part of illegal wars in Iraq that we have nothing to do with, I don't

want to be part of illegal invasions when this country disagrees with it,

yet our sons and daughters have to give up their life for a war based

on the premise of a lie. For this country, we will maintain peace

across the world and I want to break up... I look at this as empowerment

for a Scottish people so where it makes sense to work with the UK on

the international stage, we will do that but when it comes to making our

own path and being known for peace and humanity, that is a great

contribution that Scotland can make. If you want to fight in the army in

the future, the Scottish defence force would love to have you. Well,

if we got the yes vote on Friday, it would affect my plans for the

future, as I was intending to join the RAF when I left school. I was

wondering, what would happen with the Scottish army, the RAF and Navy?

What are your plans? It is a great question and that is in the White

Paper. It is a very long document. There are not any answers on it.

Yes, you can slack it off if you want! The point is this, whatever we

do with the Armed Forces, you will have a Naval base and an Air Force

and barracks with 15,000 regular soldiers. When Ireland became

independent, they could fight for the Irish or British army and we

intend to give people the same choice, fight for the British or the

Scottish defence force. You will have a choice. The difference is, I

don't want Scottish soldiers to go into wars that are based on the

premise of a lie, I want foreign policy based on good runcible is,

humane principles, I want us to be peacekeepers and if you have any

role to play with that, I hope we can play that in Scotland. `` good

principles. I don't want my country to be drawn into illegal wars either

and I am proud of the role that the Lib Dems played in standing up

against the war in Iraq under the leadership of Charles Kennedy,

another Scottish MP. But I also want Scotland to be part of a country

that has a bigger voice in the world, that is a part of the UN

Security Council, one of the big layers. One of the things I am

proudest of is that we have increased the aid budget is of the

UK is the second largest provider of international aid in the entire

world and that is something that the Scots have influenced. We are one of

the soft power superpowers and that is something we will step away from,

we have achieved so much as the UK stepping up and speaking up for

values and beliefs and we should not run away from that at. When it comes

to the Scottish defence force, a number of people have raised

questions about this. Eloise in the corner, she had a chance in the

Scottish Parliament to ask both sides because she once a career in

the Armed Forces. Certainly, she had a chance to as both sides and they

answer those questions. You have heard the different views on how the

armed forces would look in an independent Scotland and different

experts have come out with different views. Going back to tuition fees, I

certainly have looked into this over the last few months and I know this

is a big issue for everybody here. There are several issues being

brought up. This issue of charging English and Welsh students to come

over the border is quite crucial. Actually, they would have to go to

the EU and argue a special case for Scotland to allow that to continue

but universities need that money, that revenue, to make sure that the

best universities `` they can be the best universities they can be.

Tuition fees for the rest of the UK students in Scotland are lower for

the rest of the UK and the Scottish government has always made a pledge

that tuition fees in Scotland would be free. Chris Smith? Things are

heating up online also. Please keep getting in touch. On Twitter or

Facebook. This is what is happening. People are starting to chat about

this online, Dimbleby, no idea about that, Barry says we're not voting no

to remain a Minoru too, were voting yes to become a nation. Paul was to

say he cannot help but think there was trouble ahead as both sides are

so passionate. Daryl wants to make a point about SNP education, why do we

still have 33 children in a class, years ago they promised class sizes

of 18. No faith they can deliver. Did the SNP break its promise? The

point is, we want to invest in education and the difference of the

other side at Westminster is they are making people and you only have

to travel two miles to see tens of thousands queueing up at food banks.

We want to use that money not our nuclear bombs or illegal wars, we

want that for education and the NHS and the public services. Is he wrong

about 33 kids? Ears in terms of the promise. Nonetheless, the point is,

yes, do we want to do more? Absolutely. Let us spend the money

on the people here instead of pocket money from Westminster that is

cutting the budget. Phil says of Jewish and, where do the overheads

for University, from? Who pays taxes? This is a graph of people

using this... Lots of people getting involved. Let us hear from you. Only

people in Scotland get the vote but there are reasons why people in

England, Wales and Northern Ireland should care. What with the UK be

called, what about the flag? I would not affect the UK's standing around

the rest of the world. `` Highwood it perfect. `` Harlow would it

perfect. We're lucky to have representatives

from different parts of the UK with questions. Better start in the

undecided camp. I am Matthew from the UK, of course! I am from London.

I have travelled up to spend time with my fellow countrymen. Today is

proof that young people are engaged in politics and this is a slap on

the hand for anybody who says that we should not have the right to vote

across the UK. The other issue about this is, opinion polls are something

to believe in this debate, and if so, if the no camp does win, there

is a serious issue that Westminster politicians need to consider, how

can 49% of my fellow countrymen be so disillusioned from politicians

that they do and want to be part of the union? If Scotland does vote no

on Thursday, this should not be seen as a huge factory. This is an issue

that is bigger than Scotland, it is for the north`east of England, where

I have lived, added issue that Westminster politicians need to get

in touch with people across the country. `` and it is an issue. I am

from here in Northern Ireland and one of the things I think about this

debate which we have been grateful for is that it shows that in

Northern Ireland, the new model how we look at these questions and in

Scotland we have a very mature debate about the economic 's and

things like that and we have moved away from tribalism, which we have

an issue with. The reason I with the yes camp is looking at the Republic

of Ireland, when they left, the media in Britain said that the

economy would go and the currency would go, but that has not happened.

We had bad times but the economy of the Republic has grown and

flourished and that has developed its own culture. As was said, the

Republic got to write its own constitution based on its own values

and principles and put them at the heart of the world stage, which is

important for any country. I am from Manchester.

In this referendum debate there have been cultural and political factors.

First of all, culturally, there has been a sectarian message in Scotland

that Scotland and the rest of the UK are different. We had 300 years of

achievements together. We have political identity, there has been a

message from people that Scotland rules by a government they did not

elect. Manchester did not vote for conservative. Inner cities vote

Labour. We did not vote for the Tories either. Should we be

independent as well because we did not vote for this government? Would

you like to pick up on that? I think that brings into question and entire

new debate, that of regional authority. So much power has been

given to Westminster in how I unitary system of government, but at

the same time people across the UK should have the powers to decide

what is best for the local regions and governments. I think that is a

very valid point. A federal UK would have Scotland, Wales, north`east,

Wales, London, wherever else. But you need the United Kingdom, the

broad shoulders, to deal with the more difficult economic issues, a

powerful economy that can solve things, because each of those

regions cannot solve everything on its own. It is a very important

point to make and the Republic and Ireland as a whole has had a long

history with the United Kingdom. The thing is, you are not rewriting

history, you are creating a new future. The history and links are

still there and it is about stepping forward on your own. History is not

everything. Picking up on Matthew's point from earlier, come Friday you

potentially have a country that does not feel part of it. How do you

unite that half, those people who were in the opposing camp, make them

feel part of this country whatever the result? I agree with a lot of

what Matthew said. Having 16 and 17`year`olds having the vote is

something we should do in every election, not just this referendum.

Some of the best debates I have been involved with have been with young

people debating this referendum. Whatever the result of the

referendum it is important that both sides respect the result, respect

those who made the decision to vote the opposite way and get on to make

the best of the country. From my point of view, I hope there is a no

vote and if there is, the first thing to do will be to deliver more

powers, extra devolution for Scotland will stop the change being

offered now should be maintained. Keeping that on track to make sure

we have a stronger Scottish parliament and within the federal

United Kingdom, if we can deliver that, I think we will satisfy most

people. I think most people in Scotland want more powers for

Scotland but within the safety and security we get from being part of

one United Kingdom. What about that question of unity? Unity and

identity are two important points. I don't like the use of the word

sectarian on the identity issue, I think it has been removed from the

debate. In my example, my father from Pakistan, my mother from

Kenya, one grandfather from India and another from somewhere else. My

grandchildren, it don't knows what that will be. Identity is fluid. If

the result is the way I wanted to go, the first thing we have to do is

reach out to those on the nose side the first thing Alex Salmond has

said is that he wants all additions from the no side to be part of team

Scotland, negotiating on their behalf if we are independent. We

have to make sure of the outcome that debate. If the result is not

the way I wanted to do, first of all I will cry, but then I expect there

will be a reaching out from the nose side to the yes side. Politics in

Scotland will never be the same again. We had an engagement that has

lit the fuse the like of which we will never see again. In terms of

facing the problem is that the North of England has, that region has been

completely neglected by London and Westminster. Scotland is not only

has a chance to do something about it, but if Scotland games

independence, the North of England will have a chance of no longer

being ignored. They will say that if Scotland is managing to have free

education, protecting the NHS, running their repairs to the best

outcome of the ordinary people, then why in the hell is Westminster not

doing the same for people of Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds

Bradford and so on. I'm Kirsty, 19 and a student from Glasgow. I really

dislike how much aggression this whole referendum has caused between

both sides. It means I don't speak to my friends about this because I

know we will fall out. I really hate how divided the whole country has

become. Would it be fair that on Thursday, should we vote yes with a

small majority, would that be fair for the small majority of yes to

cause complete change to Scotland, whereas if the same result was for a

no vote it would result in devo max which would give change is accepted

by both sides and everyone would appreciate it and would like it.

Would that be fair to totally change on such a small majority of votes? I

agree that the aggression that has come from both sides in some areas

has been terrible, but it is important to remember that does not

reflect on the better together campaign or the yes Scotland

campaign. I have had things thrown at me, I have been dragged by large

men. I've had a terrible time. I'm sure other people have as well. My

best friend is a Lib Dem supporter and she is very much for no thanks.

I clearly don't have very good taste! But it has been divisive in

some areas. You talk about having such a small majority of votes. In

an independent Scotland we always get the government we vote for so

every single person's voice is heard. Even people who voted no

would get their policies and wishes reflected. This is not a vote for a

separated country and people. It is a vote for democracy. Can you say we

get the government we vote for when only half of Scotland voted for the

SNP? Just now in the Westminster government we have... We use first

past the post in the general elections... Will you let me

answer... In the Scottish parliament we use a different system for local

and Scottish elections. We have a mixture between first past the post

and the alternative vote. It is proportional representation. That is

how we vote, we have a more democratic system in Scotland

through electoral systems. That is fact. The Scottish people, less than

50% might have voted... More than 50% might have voted for the SNP, it

might not have been a majority, but the small minority that voted for

Tory in Scotland is a complete and utter... It is a disgrace we are

ruled by a government we did not vote for. We have one Tory MP in

Scotland. We are not reflective of their policies. We do not want their

taxes, further welfare reform, the denationalisation of the Royal mail.

Scotland voted against these policies in high numbers, but our

wishes as a country were not reflected. This should be a

democratic system. The only way we are allowed a democratic system is

if the Scottish people make the choices for Scottish politics and

they are the best people because they are the people who have to live

in this country and they should be making the decisions. Such passion,

Chris Smith. Plenty of passion online as well. The debate we are

having here being mirrored online. This is a word cloud of what people

are saying. You can see the same things we are talking about here in

the studio are mirrored online. We have a trend map showing people all

over the UK using that hashtag. Sam wants to know what will happen

to the monarchy if Scotland gets independence. Wide as pro`Scotland

have to descend into anti`England? I hope the attitude improves. `` why

does. One of the important issues coming out of the debate is identity

which we have touched on briefly. From next week, how would being

Scottish feel different? From being here tonight and what we have talked

about so far, as anybody's mind changed, Suede, questioned? Raise

your hand if it has stopped, I am now more no. I have definitely

gone more towards the yes campaign. Was there anything specific? I think

what they are proposing sounds like a great Scotland to live in but my

only issue is, would you raise taxes to live in it? If you said yes, I

would personally pay more if it meant more education for those in

disadvantaged areas, but you have not said how you will do it? Would

she have to pay more tax? Yes or no will stop. Spend ?500 million less

on defence, we would not be paying for a portion of the nuclear Trident

missiles, ?100 billion. We would not be sending Danny Alexander to

Westminster any more. We would make savings and cuts, but not in places

like education. Danny Alexander. I'm afraid the numbers don't add up and

it is pie in the sky from the Nationalists. We know from the

independent analyses being done that with oil revenues going down and

costs going up, the one thing you can be certain of in an independent

Scotland is bigger cuts, quickly, taxes going up for everybody just to

maintain services at a lower level. If what you want to do is protect

public services and invest in the NHS, if you want to have

opportunities for young people, you have to keep the UK together because

that is the only way we will have those resources. We do not have

long, can you keep it brief. I came in here with a really open mind

today and I would like to have been swayed by either side. But the yes

vote has taken it for me. More power to the people. A lady with a

microphone over there. What did you want to say? Stand up. I am not

changing my vote at all but what I have changed my mind on, when I came

tonight I believe that under 18 's should be allowed to vote but going

by a lot of what I have heard from under 18 's tonight, it appears that

not a lot have many clear understandings of paying taxes and

having jobs. I think if some of the under 18`year`olds would be

threatened with losing their jobs, they would have a much higher worry

of being independent. I think it is fair to say that there

are still people undecided, people swaying each way. It is amazing to

hear such a vocal crowd of people at such a young age. It has been

brilliant. Please keep chatting online. Thank you so much for

listening and watching. Thank you to all you guys for making this an

incredible debate. Thank you to our guests and all of you. Good luck on

Thursday. On the eve of the final day

of campaigning,