The four main Scottish party leaders faced off in the first televised debate of the general election campaign, broadcast by STV. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, and Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard debated key issues including independence, Brexit, and domestic policies.
Ms Sturgeon argued that Scotland's future was "on the line" and reiterated her party's demand for a second independence referendum. She described Boris Johnson as "utterly unfit" to be prime minister and said the SNP could deny the Conservatives a Westminster majority. Mr Carlaw countered that Ms Sturgeon did not respect referendum results and warned that a Labour government could "sell out Scotland" by agreeing to a second independence vote.
Mr Rennie called for an end to "constitutional division" and urged voters to back the Liberal Democrats to stop both Brexit and independence. Mr Leonard said independence would be "economically devastating" but did not rule out a future vote if the SNP won a mandate at Holyrood elections. He framed the election as a straight choice between a Conservative or Labour government.
The leaders also clashed on domestic issues. Mr Rennie challenged Ms Sturgeon on declining educational standards in maths and science, while she defended progress in closing the attainment gap. Mr Carlaw was pressed over the impact of universal credit, which Mr Leonard said had pushed families into poverty. Mr Rennie defended the Liberal Democrats' record in coalition, and Ms Sturgeon questioned Mr Leonard's stance on Trident nuclear weapons.
