First-time voters debate Scottish independence

The 16- and 17-year-olds asked panellists from the Better Together and Yes Scotland campaigns about how independence would affect a range of issues, including free further education, jobs and the economy, energy creation and state pensions.

One passionate participant asked whether privatisation of parts of the NHS would be inevitable if Scotland stays in the UK, while another asked how an independent Scotland would be able to afford free health care and higher education.

The debate was held to give young people an opportunity to hear first-hand from the politicians fronting the campaigns, helping them to decide whether to vote for Scotland to become an independent country or for it to remain part of the UK.

More than 7,500 16- and 17-year-olds from schools across Scotland packed into the SSE Hydro in Glasgow for the debate on Thursday night, which saw deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon and co-convenor of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie – both from the Yes Scotland campaigns – thrash out their argument for independence with leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson and Respect MP George Galloway from the Better Together campaign.

The event was the first of its kind and follows an historic agreement signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in October 2012 allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote for the first time in the referendum.

During its annual debate at the House of Commons in last November, the UK Youth Parliament selected lowering the voting age to 16 across the UK as one of its campaign priorities for 2014.