Stuart McMillan Challenges Duncan McNeil to Live Head to Head Debate

SNP MSP and local Yes campaigner Stuart McMillan has today challenged his Labour counterpart and No campaigner, Duncan McNeil MSP, to a live head to head debate in September.

In a letter to Mr McNeil, Mr McMillan says “With September’s Referendum now only 50 days away, I write to seek your agreement to a live head-to-head debate with myself during the first week in September.”

Mr McMillan goes on to say that “September’s Referendum will be the biggest decision voters in Inverclyde will ever undertake, and I feel it is only right that everyone in Inverclyde has the opportunity to hear both sides of the debate go head to head.”

Wednesday marks 50 days to go until September’s referendum and the SNP MSP believes a live debate between the area’s pro union and pro independence MSPs would be warmly welcomed.



Commenting Mr McMillan said:

“September’s referendum is the biggest and most important election anyone in Inverclyde will likely ever vote in.

“I feel it is proper and correct if Duncan and myself, as MSPs from both sides of the campaign, debate head to head.

“Over the last few months we have seen the leader of the Conservatives in Scotland come to Inverclyde, we have seen Johann Lamont and Ed Miliband also come to Inverclyde. However, on both occasions the public were never given the opportunity to quiz these senior No politicians on the Referendum.

“This is in stark contrast to the public meetings the Yes campaign have had with Green MSP Patrick Harvie, former MP Dennis Canavan and former MSP Colin Fox of the SSP, to name but a few. In the coming weeks we will also see Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and Cabinet Secretary Angela Constance, come to Inverclyde to take part in public, open to all, free events.

“If Duncan McNeil’s colleagues in the No campaign in Inverclyde are not willing to hold well advertised public meetings, then I hope he is willing to have a head to head debate with myself.

“I look forward to seeing Duncan at a debate during the first week in September.”