Salmond and Darling to go head-to-head in TV debate on Scottish independence

Scottish National Party leader, first minister Alex Salmond will go head-to-head tonight against former Labour chancellor, Alistair Darling in a live television independence referendum debate that is expected to be watched by millions of Scots.

The two-hour debate, agreed following tortuous talks, is being seen as one of the key moments in the campaign, which began two years ago and will be decided when voters go to the polls on September 18th.

So far, opinion polls indicate that the Yes campaign, led by Mr Salmond, has not persuaded a majority, largely due to doubts about Scotland's economic future and the currency an independent Scotland would use.

The SNP leader, regarded as one of the most articulate politicians in Britain, is expected to defeat Mr Darling, but observers argue that a victory for Mr Salmond is not enough and that he needs “a knock-out moment”.

"His opportunity isn't to knock Alistair Darling around the ring; it's to communicate with the audience," one of Mr Salmond's closest advisers told the Glasgow Herald.

The debate will begin at 8pm, before a carefully-chosen 350-strong audience in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow: 40 per cent are Yes supporters, 40 per cent intend to vote No, while the rest are undecided.

Preparations have gone on for the last week, with Mr Salmond working closely with an adviser who has urged him to drop any Braveheart-style language and concentrate on offering an image of hope.

Women have been the most reluctant to consider voting for independence, and many of them are turned off by Mr Salmond’s combative style of politics.

The former Labour chancellor has his own issues to contend with. Regarded “as one of the most boring men in British politics”, Mr Darling is also seen by many as representative of a class of politician who have made their careers in Westminster, preferring London to Scotland.