Salmond running scared as he refuses to debate on Newsnight
Refusal to answer question is his Michael Howard moment


Labour has slammed Alex Salmond for refusing to debate with Scotland Office Minister David Cairns on Newsnight – despite sitting next to him during the interview.

David Cairns MP said:

“Alex Salmond and I were sitting next to each other at the same desk, in the same TV studio, on the same programme, with the same interviewer – but he refused point-blank before the programme to debate with me. He insisted on being interviewed separately and only after I had finished speaking. He simply wouldn’t debate the issues – perhaps because he doesn’t have any answers.”

Scottish Labour have branded his performance as his ‘Michael Howard’ moment, as he repeatedly refused to answer the same question from Jeremy Paxman.

Ten times Alex Salmond was asked if the SNP would implement its manifesto promises, and ten times Mr Salmond refused to answer.

David Cairns MP continued:

“Tonight the people of Scotland got the clearest indication yet that the SNP has no intention of keeping all their manifesto promises from last year’s election. Why should the people of Glasgow East trust the SNP’s hardline nationalist candidate when Alex Salmond openly acknowledges that he won’t keep his promises?”

Earlier on, Labour’s by-election candidate Margaret Curran challenged her opponent to a live TV debate:

“Let me be clear: Labour’s fightback starts right here, right now. I will fight and fight again for the people of the East End so here, on the steps of the selection meeting, I publicly challenge Councillor Mason to a live television debate – any time, any place.”