Today marks the final day of the Scottish National Party conference in Perth - the final conference before next year's vote on Scottish independence.One can fairly analyse that it has been a spiritually uplifting experience for the party and Yes Scotland. Naturally so, because after all they need to be confident about the future, despite the polls generally suggesting that Scotland will probably vote to stay in the union.
But the one thing that really continues to baffles me is why the British Prime Minister seems to not feel as anxious as he really should be about the potential prospect of the termination of one of the most well known and appreciated economic and political unions of all time. It's too easy to suggest that the reason he doesn't want to debate is because, he doesn't need to.
If that is the case then that suggests gross complacency. Just look at what happened across the Irish Sea a few weeks ago when Taoiseach Enda Kenny refused to debate his opponents over the abolition of the Seanad (the Irish equivalent of the UK House of Lords). He lost the vote. And, dare I say this, he deserved to. If you cannot, or aren't willing, to go live on television and defend your stance over an issue then frankly you deserve no room to complain if you lose.
While David Cameron is more than happy to declare his willingness to debate Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg before the next UK General Election, he has turned his back on a political duel with the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond. And if the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (including Scotland, still) continues to keep the door closed on First Minister Salmond, then he may look back on this period of history with severe regret.
Because Prime Minister Cameron will send out a message implying that defending the United Kingdom in its current form is somehow not a matter of high importance to him. He stands at the dispatch box down at Westminster continually saying that he is passionate about the United Kingdom.
Well if he is that passionate then let me make a suggestion to him - reverse your indefensible stance over the referendum debate, get yourself up to Edinburgh and take on the First Minister in front of the television cameras.
Despite the Conservatives remaining unpopular, Scotland's people, as a whole, will not automatically write off David Cameron. It is appreciated that he represents the UK as a whole and his presence will suggest that he does genuinely want to do everything in his power to persuade enough people in Scotland to vote against independence.
A live, televised debate between the heads of the Scottish and UK Governments is essential for everyone who plans to cast their vote on the 18th September next year. Voters are fed up of the backstabbing between politicians in the media. Voters want the main stakeholders to debate each other directly. It's in the best interests of both sides, the voters and the future of our country. So why not have a major debate live on either the BBC, STV or Sky News - or maybe even all three broadcasters?!
And finally, does David Cameron really want to go down in history as the British Prime Minister who lost Scotland on his watch? Such an event would be damning.
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