The first televised referendum debate between The First Minister Alex Salmond and Better Together leader Alistair Darling did not, as some had predicted, prove to be the Bannockburn moment for the Yes campaign.

The First Minister chose to indulge in what he considered to be important issues, and in babbling on about driving on the right hand side of the road and space exploration illustrated his inability to act as a statesman.

His contempt for the voters was there for all to see when he repeatedly refused to provide any indication of an alternative plan for Scotland’s currency in the event of a Yes vote. Apparently there is a plan B, C, D, E and F, yet we the Scottish public have not been given the courtesy of being informed. “It’s our pound and we’re keeping it” has been the rallying cry heard over and over again (no less than eight times during FMQ’s last week in fact), but we are no closer to hearing what the plan is if the rest of the UK refuse to allow a currency union (as the three main parties have indicated).

I have said in the past, as Mr Salmond has been quick to point out on several occasions, that a currency union may be the desirable option, and that I would act in Scotland’s best interest in the event of a Yes vote. However, those with the power to decide have said no and it’s time the people of Scotland were treated with the respect we deserve and told, once and for all, the definitive plan for the currency in an independent Scotland, should the vote go Mr Salmond’s way.

With four weeks to go until the most important vote in Scotland’s history, let us come together and reaffirm our position as a strong Scotland in a United Kingdom.

Last week saw Asda open its new super store on the Main St, bringing a much needed facility to shoppers in Barrhead and 150 new jobs to the area.

The recently opened business centre at Barrhead Foundry is another welcome addition in providing a base for local businesses and entrepreneurs to apply for corporate sponsorship and to develop their projects using state of the art facilities.

These investments represent a positive step locally and nationally as part of a rise in employment. Figures revealed this week show unemployment in Scotland fell by 2,000 to 6.4 per cent in the last three months, a further indication the economy is recovering strongly. In addition, an extra 9,000 people found a job, a rate that is slightly above the UK average. This is a clear endorsement of the UK Government’s long-term economic strategy after taking over from another Labour Government which, like all Labour Governments, ends in market devaluation and near national bankruptcy.”