Chris

The polls were carried out in the immediate aftermath of the row blowing up over the pound and Salmond's typically pugilistic response.

It's difficult to get across to someone in England just how loathed the Tories are up here. Yes, they have a core vote of around 16% but outside of that they're about as welcome as bacon butties at a bar mitzvah. Any Tory saying or doing anything with regards to Scotland will immediately elicit a contrary response from a significant section of the Scottish public. This is why Salmond is so desperate to get a TV debate with Cameron, and why Cameron has had the good sense to refuse.

However, Darling (for it is he who is pulling the strings) is playing a blinder. He has got Balls, Alexander and Osborne singing from the same hymn sheet and at a point in the debate which has forced Salmond to expend his ammo far too early. You don't need to worry about the immediate reaction. The Scottish electorate is not stupid and the cold, hard facts about currency, and EU membership will weigh heavily on the debate from now on, with people increasingly dwelling on the message rather than the messenger.

And remember, the only poll that counts is the one where you mark an X in the box. People tend to think much more carefully about the ballot box than an opinion poll.