Scotland Decides: The Big, Big Debate

Last updated

Scotland Decides: The Big, Big Debate
Presented by James Cook
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locations OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Running time60 minutes (approx.)
Production companies Mentorn,
BBC Scotland
Original release
Network BBC One
Release11 September 2014 (2014-09-11)

Scotland Decides: The Big, Big Debate was a one-off British television programme broadcast by the BBC on 11 September 2014, a week prior to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The 60-minute show was recorded at Glasgow's OVO Hydro during the afternoon prior to broadcast. It was presented by Scottish journalist James Cook before an audience of about 7,500 16- and 17-year-olds, first-time voters on the day of the referendum, some of whom were invited to quiz a panel of prominent politicians from both the "Yes" and "No" campaigns. [1]

Contents

The audience included representatives from every secondary school in Scotland, while the panel was made up of Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Green Party leader Patrick Harvie from the "Yes Scotland" campaign, and Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson and Respect Party MP George Galloway representing the "Better Together" campaign.

Background

Plans for a televised debate featuring an audience of Scotland's first-time voters were announced on 23 June, with BBC Scotland describing it as the UK's largest ever political debate involving an audience of 7,500. The 16 and 17-year-olds, who would be able to cast their vote for the first time at the forthcoming referendum, would be invited to the OVO Hydro, an arena in Glasgow, where they would have the opportunity to question a panel of senior politicians about Scottish independence. The panel's line-up would be confirmed at a later date. John Boothman, BBC Scotland's Head of News and Current Affairs, said "We are proud to bring the nation's young people together to hear the arguments that will determine the future of the country." [2]

The panellists were confirmed on 11 September, but the show attracted controversy in the days preceding that announcement after a spokesman for George Galloway claimed that plans for the Respect Party MP, who represented the English constituency of Bradford West at the time, to appear as a representative for the "No" campaign had been vetoed by senior BBC management as they wanted only Scottish-based politicians; even though Galloway was born in Dundee, and had grown up in the city. [3] The BBC rejected suggestions that such a decision had been made, [3] and Galloway would go on to be one of the show's four panellists. [4]

The Debate

The debate was recorded at OVO Hydro on the afternoon of Thursday 11 September 2014, and broadcast during the evening on BBC One (earlier in Scotland). Presented by James Cook, the four members of the panel were Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Green Party leader Patrick Harvie for the Yes campaign, and Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson and Respect Party politician George Galloway for the No campaign. The audience was made up of 7,500 teenagers representing every secondary school in Scotland. [1] [5]

Julie McDowall of The Herald writes that the debate started off slowly, but came to life after twelve minutes when Galloway was asked a question about employment, but chose instead to speak about fiscal matters. Galloway was booed on several occasions. [5] Much of the debate focused on topics relating to taxation, oil reserves, banking, poverty and how to protect NHS Scotland, over which there were some heated exchanges. [5] [6] McDowall also notes that some "comical directions from the stage" were required because of the venue's size. "James Cook had to call for questions from 'the man clapping with your hands in the air' or 'the boy pointing at your own head!'". [5] Writing for The Times about the event 18 months later, Matt Chorley reflected that "The sight of" Galloway, "in his large black fedora telling the audience to ask their grandparents about the Nazis became one of the most memorable things about the evening". [7]

Reception

McDowall gives the debate a favourable review, expressing surprise at the topics raised by the teenage audience, which she had expected would be "different from the usual questions". She also questioned Galloway's headwear, remarking: "He was a ridiculous figure onstage. With his tilted trilby and microphone all he needed was a single sequined glove." [5]

The Independent 's Chris Green reported that the audience had become restless due to the length they were required to wait before the panelists appeared onstage. Encouraged to engage in social media while attending the debate, many used the opportunity to vent their frustration about the venue's lack of air conditioning and their increasing boredom. Green describes this as the debate's "most entertaining feature." [8]

Related Research Articles

The Scottish National Party is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 62 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons. It has 453 local councillors of the 1,227 available. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom and for Scotland's membership in the European Union, with a platform based on progressive social policies and civic nationalism. Founded in 1934 with the amalgamation of the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party, the party has had continuous parliamentary representation in Westminster since Winnie Ewing won the 1967 Hamilton by-election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Greens</span> Scottish political party

The Scottish Greens are a green political party in Scotland. The party has 7 MSPs of 129 in the Scottish Parliament, the party holds 35 of the 1226 councillors at Scottish local Government level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish independence</span> Independence movement in Europe

Scottish independence is the idea of Scotland regaining its independence and once again becoming a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom. The term Scottish independence refers to the political movement that is campaigning to bring it about.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicola Sturgeon</span> First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023

Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2014 to 2023. She has served as a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 1999, first as an additional member for the Glasgow electoral region, and as the member for Glasgow Southside from 2007.

<i>Question Time</i> (TV programme) British topical debate TV programme

Question Time is a topical debate programme, typically broadcast on BBC One at 10:45 pm on Thursdays. It is usually repeated on BBC Two and on BBC Parliament later in the week. If there is a Leaders special, it would be broadcast simultaneously on BBC News. Question Time is also available on BBC iPlayer. Fiona Bruce currently chairs the show having succeeded David Dimbleby as presenter in January 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Harvie</span> Co-Leader of the Scottish Green Party

Patrick Harvie is a Scottish politician who served as Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights from 2021 to 2024. He has served as one of two co-leaders of the Scottish Greens since 2008, and is one of the first Green politicians in the UK to serve as a government minister. Harvie has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region since 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OVO Hydro</span> Multi-purpose indoor arena in Glasgow, Scotland

The OVO Hydro is a multi-purpose indoor arena located within the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Scottish independence referendum</span> Referendum held in Scotland

A referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was held in Scotland on 18 September 2014. The referendum question was "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which voters answered with "Yes" or "No". The "No" side won with 2,001,926 (55.3%) voting against independence and 1,617,989 (44.7%) voting in favour. The turnout of 84.6% was the highest recorded for an election or referendum in the United Kingdom since the January 1910 general election, which was held before the introduction of universal suffrage.

Yes Scotland was the organisation representing the parties, organisations, and individuals campaigning for a Yes vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. It was launched on 25 May 2012 and dissolved in late 2014 after Scotland voted against independence.

Better Together was the successful campaign for a No vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, advocating Scotland to remain a country of the United Kingdom. The organisation was formed in June 2012, operating until winning the vote on the referendum's polling day on 18 September 2014 with 2,001,926 (55.3%) voting against independence and 1,617,989 (44.7%) voting in favour. In June 2014, the campaign adopted a No Thanks branding, in relation to the referendum question.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radical Independence Campaign</span> Pro-Scottish independence organisation

The Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) is a grassroots organisation which advocates for Scotland to become a republic, independent of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March and Rally for Scottish Independence</span>

The March and Rally for Scottish Independence was a demonstration in support of Scottish independence that had taken place in Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, in both 2012 and 2013. It was originally set to take place again in 2014, shortly before the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, but it was called off as "the focus [in 2014] has got to be on persuading the many undecided voters all over Scotland, crucially in their own communities, and that will call for different types of events".

This is a list of events in Scottish television from 2014.

The 2015 United Kingdom general election debates were a series of four live television programmes featuring the leaders of seven main British parties that took place during the run-up to the general election. They each featured different formats and participants.

This is a list of events in Scottish television from 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 United Kingdom general election in Scotland</span>

A general election was held in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2015 and all 59 seats in Scotland were contested under the first-past-the-post, single-member district electoral system. Unlike the 2010 general election, where no seats changed party, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won all but three seats in Scotland, gaining a total of 56 seats. The SNP received what remains the largest number of votes gained by a single political party in a United Kingdom general election in Scotland in British history, breaking the previous record set by the Labour Party in 1964 and taking the largest share of the Scottish vote in sixty years, at approximately 50 per cent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ash Regan</span> Scottish politician (born 1974)

Ashten Regan is a Scottish politician. She has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh Eastern since 2016. Initially elected to parliament for the Scottish National Party (SNP), she defected to the Alba Party. Regan served under First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as the minister for community safety from 2018 until she resigned in 2022 in protest against her government's Gender Recognition Reform bill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proposed second Scottish independence referendum</span> Possible future referendum

A second referendum on Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom (UK) has been proposed by the Scottish Government. An independence referendum was first held on 18 September 2014, with 55% voting "No" to independence. The Scottish Government stated in its white paper for independence that voting Yes was a "once in a generation opportunity to follow a different path, and choose a new and better direction for our nation". Following the "No" vote, the cross party Smith Commission proposed areas that could be devolved to the Scottish Parliament; this led to the passing of the Scotland Act 2016, formalising new devolved policy areas in time for the 2016 Scottish Parliament election campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Scottish Greens</span> Aspect of Scottish political history

The Scottish Greens is a centre-left to left-wing green political party in Scotland that was founded in 1990.

References

  1. 1 2 Taylor, Marianne; Fraser, Graham; Sayers, Louise; Currie, Martin (11 September 2014). "Referendum Live - as it happened". BBC News (Scotland), n.d. BBC. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Scottish independence: Plans announced for Scotland's 'biggest ever debate'". BBC News. BBC. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Galloway TV debate claims dismissed". The Courier. D. C. Thompson & Co. 10 September 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Dean, Lewis (11 September 2014). "Scottish Independence: George Galloway to Debate Referendum with SNP's Nicola Sturgeon on BBC". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 McDowall, Julie (12 September 2014). "TV review: The Big, Big Debate" . The Herald. Newsquest. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Scottish independence: NHS funding clash in debate". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Chorley, Matt (12 March 2016). "Teenagers turned Scots TV clash into pantomime". The Times. London. Retrieved 11 April 2016.(subscription required)
  8. ↑ Green, Chris (12 September 2014). "Scottish independence: Bored teenagers at BBC's Big Big Debate take to Twitter mostly to complain - or look for boyfriends". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.