Both sides of the independence debate agree to a ‘clean fight’

Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling both sign up to The Sunday Post’s ‘clean fight’ pledge.

The battle lines were drawn after the signing of the historic Edinburgh Agreement in 2012, but if you thought the last two years of campaigning have been ugly, just wait until you see the next five months.

As we enter the final, critical phase of the referendum, The Sunday Post is today calling for calm heads and a ‘clean fight’ from everyone in the campaign over the coming months.

It’s easy to forget we are lucky to live in a country where huge political change comes through the ballot box instead of bloodshed and all sides need to ensure this privilege is respected.

Scotland is a small country and whatever the referendum outcome, Yes and No voters will have to live and work alongside each other come September 19. We are delighted to have the political leaders of the Yes and No campaigns sign our ‘clean fight’ pledge today.

Alistair Darling, leader of the Better Together campaign:

The decision we make in September is a choice between two futures do we want the best of both worlds, with a more powerful Scottish Parliament backed by the strength, security and stability of being part of UK. Or do we take a leap into the unknown with separation?

The eyes of the world are upon us. Passions will run high, but both sides must be absolutely clear that personal abuse is unacceptable. Recently the boss of Barrhead Travel told his staff he thought leaving the UK would be bad for jobs and business. The backlash from nationalists in vilifying a man who dared to speak out was shaming on Scotland. We can’t go on like this. The stakes are high. Hard questions have to be asked. But let’s do that in a way that’s a credit to Scotland. The abuse has to stop now.

First Minister Alex Salmond:

Scotland should be immensely proud of the debate we are having on our nation’s future.

Because the truth is, whatever the differences of opinions, it is a profoundly democratic and peaceful one. And that cannot be said of every such process around the globe, past and present.

Only last month, US Secretary of State John Kerry held up Scotland’s referendum as an international example of how these things should be done.

The next five months give all of us the chance to live up to that high praise.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be honest and sincere differences of opinion or that facts will not be disputed. That is part of the essence of healthy political debate in a democratic society.

But the arguments must be conducted in a civilised way by everyone involved. The opportunity of a lifetime awaits voters on September 18 and they deserve a debate which matches that opportunity.