YES campaign MSP Stuart McMillan has challenged his No-camp rival Duncan McNeil to a head-to-head debate ahead of the independence referendum.

The SNP’s Mr McMillan threw down the gauntlet to Labour’s Mr McNeil as First Minister Alex Salmond prepares to take on Better Together figurehead Alistair Darling in an STV showdown next Tuesday.

It’s not known yet whether Mr McNeil will agree to the debate.

Mr McMillan said: “September’s referendum is the biggest and most important election anyone in Inverclyde will likely ever vote in.

“I feel it is proper and correct if Duncan and myself, as MSPs from both sides of the campaign, debate head-to-head.” West Scotland MSP Mr McMillan has formally written to Mr McNeil with his debate challenge, telling him: “We are both fully aware that there are many people in Inverclyde who are still undecided on the issue of independence.

“I believe a live debate between the area’s pro-union and pro-independence MSPs would be warmly welcomed.” On 18 September voters in Inverclyde and throughout Scotland will be asked the Yes/No question, ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’.

MSP Mr McMillan — who would like to debate Mr McNeil in early September — said: “Over the last few months we have seen the leader of the Conservatives in Scotland come to Inverclyde, we have seen Johann Lamont and Ed Miliband also come to Inverclyde.

“However, on both occasions the public were never given the opportunity to quiz these senior No politicians on the referendum.

“This is in stark contrast to the public meetings the Yes campaign have had with Green MSP Patrick Harvie, former MP Dennis Canavan and former MSP Colin Fox of the SSP, to name but a few.

“In the coming weeks we will also see Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Cabinet Secretary Angela Constance come to Inverclyde to take part in public, open to all, free events.

“If Duncan McNeil’s colleagues in the No campaign in Inverclyde are not willing to hold well advertised public meetings, then I hope he is willing to have a head-to-head debate with myself.

“I look forward to seeing Duncan at a debate during the first week in September.”