Scottish independence battle revisited in televised leaders debate

The prospect of a second referendum on Scottish independence featured heavily in the second televised leaders debate ahead of the Holyrood election in May.

Party leaders Nicola Sturgeon, Kezia Dugdale, Ruth Davidson, Willie Rennie and Patrick Harvie took turns to quiz each other during the two hour broadcast on STV.

After admitting some consensus on long term strategy on health and education, the party leaders reiterated their position on Scottish independence.

SNP leader Sturgeon was asked to clarify her statement at party conference when she said plans to build a new case for independence would begin in the Summer. 

"If I'm going to achieve what i want to see in my lifetime, and that is Scotland becoming an independent country... then I've got to persuade more people. That's what I will seek to do over the months and years to come," she said, refusing to say whether it will feature in the SNP manifesto.

Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said she had "no regrets" about voting no as GERS figures had shown Scotland would be "£15bn worse off as an independent country." In a attack on Conservative leader Ruth Davidson she said she "didn't need to wave a union jack and drive a tank" to be committed to the United Kingdom.

Davidson said the Conservatives would eventually charge "about £8" for prescription medicines and introduce a £6,000 fee for university tuition. She asked chair Bernard Ponsonby if she was there "to be shouted at".

Once again tax featured heavily in the debate. Greens co-convener Harvie defended his party's tax proposals launched yesterday as "bold" after Rennie and Davidson said they would damage the economy.