SNP's criticism of Darling's visit to Tory conference is worrying

So, the Scottish Tories are meeting in Stirling this weekend for two days of torrid whispering in corners about Ruth Davidson's leadership and not discussing more powers for the Scottish Parliament.

The event will also feature a Better Together reception as Labour and Liberal Democrat conferences have done. Alistair Darling in his role as chair of Better Together will be speaking. Typically, the SNP, including people who should know better, have been chuntering about this. Rather than discuss the nitty gritty of independence, because their plans are constantly being shown to be a bit lacking in either logic,detail or accuracy, the SNP like to talk up the presence of the Tories in the Better Together campaign. Not the most grown-up approach.

But that tactic, if you think about it, displays a worrying, almost sinister, mindset. It's not exactly what you would call pluralistic. I don't care much for the Conservative Party's world view. Even its supposed moderate programme, which involved getting rid of the Human Rights Act, marriage tax breaks and inheritance tax cuts for rich, dead people, as well as eroding employment rights, was bad enough. The nastier side that we are seeing at the moment on equal marriage and Europe really makes me feel very uncomfortable.

Ok, I don't like what they stand for. Some of it makes my skin crawl and every day I'm grateful that the Liberal Democrats are in there at Westminster stopping the worst of their ideas. I can't deny, though, that there is a very long tradition of Conservative thinking and support within Scotland and that there has to be a place in the debate and in Scottish political life for them.

If dealing with the Tories is so bad, you have to wonder why the SNP are running councils with them and why their minority government between 2007 and 2011 relied so heavily on Conservative support.

The SNP need to avoid creating the impression that they are seeking to exclude any of Scotland's mainstream political parties. Our current parliament is made up so that parties have to work together. If Scotland votes for independence, it would be a massively retrograde step if that was not the case. I don't think that any one seriously thinks it would be, so maybe the SNP sshould just grow up a bit. Three of Scotland's main political parties are working together in what they see as Scotland's best interests. Together, they cover all but six of Scotland's Westminster seats. They are headed by a credible and engaging figure who would wipe the floor with Alex Salmond if the First Minister would be brave enough to debate him. The case for independence is so far going backwards in the polls. If Salmond and Yes Scotland are going to make any headway, they are going to have to bring more to the debate than "Oh look, there's Darling with the Tories."

I haven't heard one person outside of politics mention the Tory Conference. Most people are blissfully unaware that it's going on. The conversations I do have with them on independence tend to revolve around pensions, currency and jobs, as well as feeling part of the UK. There's a long way until September next year and the debate needs to be of much greater quality than it currently is.Better Together is not exempt from this either. Both sides need to be better at understanding where people are at in their thinking and responding to that, not just engaging in sterile, ill-tempered acrimony.

Better Together make me laugh

I found out something I didn't know about my husband last week. He reads emails from Better Together. I honestly didn't expect that. I tend to read all the political geekery and tell him what's happening. He tends not to do too much politicking, but he's really up for campaigning to ensure that Scotland stays as part of the UK. He hasn't been this exercised about an issue since we spent 2003 going to various marches against the Iraq war.

I discovered his Better Together habit when I returned to the car with some shopping, There he was, chortling away. The reason? An amusing typo.

The word "surgeons" in the email had been mistyped as "sturgeons."

Quite why the Deputy First Minister might have been on the author's mind as they typed this missive, I'm not sure.

Yes, it's amusing, but in terms of mistakes it's nothing compared to suggesting that after independence Scotland would just continue as a member of NATO and the EU and then being proved wrong. Or one week saying that there was considerable uncertainty in oil revenues and the next that we were bound to have an oil boom. And it's certainly not as cynical as targetting women voters with promises of childcare help - which they could give now, by the way, but only after independence.

Why we are better together #indyref

These lovely people at Better Together have put together a video of young people from across Scotland talking about why they think Scotland should stay as part of the UK. Like they say, nobody's saying we couldn't manage on our own, but we have lots of advantages of staying together with the UK, including a much stronger voice in campaigning for human rights and LGBT equality worldwide and sharing the economic risks at home.

In Full: Willie Rennie's speech at Better Together launch

Yesterday, Willie Rennie gave the final speech at the Better Together launch. I love this photo as it shows the lovely view in the background. It was taken, by the way, by Graeme Littlejohn and is reproduced with his permission.

Willie's speech was typically genuine, heartfelt and, equally typically, delivered a kick up the backside at the end, where he challenged people to do something every day to campaign for Scotland to remain within the UK.

Here's the speech in full:

I want to thank each and every person who spoke up here today and in that film  – spoke up for their nation.

They were genuine, heartfelt and optimistic.

For all that, those people are an inspiration.

As you've heard, for some the arguments that matter come from the heart.

They want our UK family to stay together because of their own family stories, because of their own life experience, and because of the common history and experience that binds us together.

For some, the arguments that matter come from the head. They want our UK family to stay together because they know that together our economy is stronger, our country is safer, and our voice in the world is louder.

For some people, most people, it's all of these things. It's about partnership, ambition and optimism.

Whilst it will be a personal decision, your decision is not really just for you it’s for future generations too. It’s a big responsibility to make a decision about what legacy you want to leave for future generations. But it’s a decision we will take together.

So in this campaign, you'll hear why we are safer, stronger, better together.

You'll hear from all three parties here, but much more importantly, you'll hear from individuals from every corner and community of Scotland.

We will take nothing for granted. In the campaign to keep our family together, we will work for every vote. Our opponents will be determined. They are passionate about their cause and will work to win. But I am determined that we will lead a campaign that will match them, and more, with our passion and our effort.

It is a decision that we will take in a few hundred days; but which will have an impact for hundreds of years. We have those days to make the case to keep a stronger Scotland in a united kingdom. For every supporter here this morning, watching online, following on twitter or however you hear this message I have a task for you.

When you wake up each day I want you to ask what you will do this day to keep Scotland stronger in a united kingdom. You could raise funds, deliver leaflets, answer the phones, tweet or whatever you can do.

Because you can do it.

This is for all of us. Scots from every part of our country. Every background. Every community. coming together to work together for a  better Scotland.

Better together.