Edinburgh - XINHUA
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and Better Together campaign leader Alistair Darling on Tuesday night launched a live TV debate on the Scottish independence referendum in Glasgow.
Broadcast live on Scottish television channel STV, Salmond made it clear that Scotland can be a successful country with its rich natural resources and talented human resources, and can "run its own affairs".
He called on voters to seize the referendum on Sept. 18 as "an opportunity in a life time" and receive it with both hands to vote "Yes" for Scotland's independence.
Darling, a British Labour Party politician and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that with just six weeks to go before the referendum, it is important to consider "the future of our country, our children and grandchildren".
He insisted on using Britain's strength to make Scotland stronger and more power for Scotland instead of "new barriers, new borders", calling for "No, thanks, to the risks of independence".
Both of them argued on the issues of different poll results, pound and currency union and what's the best for Scotland and the rest of Britain, as well as staying in the European Union.
Recent polls showed that the "No" campaign holds a steady and substantial lead over the "Yes" camp, however, some polls suggest that as many as a quarter of Scotland's 4 million voters remain undecided.
As for the audience on the scene of the TV debate, some said that they want to protect the free National Health Service and reduce inequality, get Scotland the government they vote for, and reduce the nuclear cost, some said they are still undecided due to the uncertainty of the vote, while others expressed concern on the support for public policy, alleging that it's not the time now to support nationalism.
In front of a 350-strong audience, the two-hour STV debate was taking place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
In October 2012, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Salmond signed the Edinburgh Agreement, allowing Scotland to hold an independence referendum in autumn 2014 on the question, "Should Scotland be an independent country?"