Scottish independence: Alex Salmond makes a complete fool of himself by refusing to face Alistair Darling, not a world leader after all, George Laird gets it right again; Better Together should entirely scrub the STV debate, 16th July or nothing, no negotiation, don't pander to a fool

Dear All

One of the things which the Scottish independence debate has thrown up is that Alex Salmond is an out and out buffoon.

The latest act of gross stupidity is that the first proposed Scottish independence TV debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling has collapsed.

Alex Salmond decided to play the fool saying instead of debating Alistair Darling, Better Together’s leader, he wanted to debate David Cameron.

Cameron isn’t coming, and STV didn’t send an invite to him but to Alistair Darling.

Because of the stupidity of the Nationalists, pro-UK Better Together campaign rightly withdrew from the contest.

And to make a point, what they should do now is send a clear message by cancelling any STV debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling.

Better Together accepted and was told the date of the broadcast was fixed, they agree to this, Salmond decided to change the terms and conditions of the deal.

That is not acceptable.

The pro-UK campaign said it was told by STV that the date was “firmly set” and it was “not willing to enter into negotiations with either campaign on the timing”.

Salmond hasn’t acted in good faith.

Seeing the broadcaster STV was under pressure by the Nat leadership they immediately bowed to Mr Salmond’s request to move it to a later date despite him being available on July 16.

As I said, there should now be no STV debate.

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 hard line 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.”

Better Together need to stamp this nonsense out now; and that means a statement that the STV debate is cancelled completely.

Will Better Together do this?

If they have the stomach for it, they should go hardline, because it isn’t beyond the bounds of possibility that the SNP will act up regarding the BBC debate on August 12.

If I was in charge of Better Together, I would scrub the STV event entirely, in the event that Salmond tries to be a ‘cute little honey’ at the BBC, I would make it clear; I would scrap that as well.

Salmond needs the oxygen of publicity, and to frank, you don’t pander to a fool!

An STV spokesman said:

“STV is 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."

I would bin it without a second thought.

Yours sincerely

George Laird

The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University