Yes or No?

On Monday afternoon of this week around 700 senior pupils from both James Gillespie's and Boroughmuir High Schools took part in a joint debate on the issues our pupils considered to be of most interest in the lead in to the vote on 18 September. Guest speakers for the afternoon event in Central Hall, Edinburgh were Kezia Dugdale (Better together) and Sarah Beattie Smith (Yes). The 90-minute session saw Ms Dugdale, a Lothian Labour MSP, speaking up for the anti-independence Better Together campaign and Sarah Beattie-Smith, co-convener of the Edinburgh Greens, arguing for a Yes vote. Professor Charlie Jeffrey, (Vice Principal for Public Policy and Impact at the University of Edinburgh), our chairman for the afternoon, set the tone superbly for the event.

The event was a great example of how to run a debate and engage with young people. As I commented on in my vote of thanks, I was particularly impressed at how carefully and respectfully both speakers listened to others' points of view. We need much more of this in the weeks ahead.

This report in the Evening News is worth a read.