During the course of the two hour debate, Alex Salmond had more than enough opportunity to set the record straight on a series of issues, such as his plans for a currency. The First Minister could have honestly explained how long it would take us to get back into the EU or how independence would impact on shopping bills, energy prices and mortgage and credit card payments.

These are the sort of issues I am regularly asked about on the doorsteps every week in Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven. All of us have been inundated with the sound bites from those campaigning to break up the UK, but we’ve had none of the detail. As Alistair Darling said to the First Minister during the debate e_SSLqyou’ve got some good lines, but you’ve got no answers.e_SSRq Alistair Darling repeatedly quizzed the First Minister on his plan B for the currency. It’s the question that I know many people locally want to know the answer. After all, losing the pound has a number of knock on affects to people living in West Dunbartonshire. It would mean a higher cost of living with higher mortgage payments, higher credit card and store card bills as well as more costly car loans as a separate Scotland would start out with no credit history.

Jobs in the area would also be affected due to the cost of changing money every time local employers buy or sell from our biggest customer e_SEmD the rest of the UK. Dumbarton-based Aggreko, which employs hundreds of local people, warned that the uncertainty over the currency would create risks for their business. The SNP Government would also have to introduce deeper cuts or higher taxes as they pay more to borrow money. That means more debt as well as a reduction on the money being spent on schools, hospitals and other public services which we all rely on.

The choice on September 18 is clear. It’s between taking a leap into the unknown with Alex Salmond’s separation or remaining part of the UK with more powers guaranteed for our Scottish Parliament.

I know that the strength, security and stability of being part of the UK is more attractive than the risk and uncertainty that independence would bring. With it being such a leap in the dark, it’s hardly surprising that I hear more and more local people saying No Thanks to Alex Salmond’s plans for separation in September.