'You are really scrabbling around now!' Alistair Darling takes the fight to Alex Salmond in first live TV debate on Scottish independence Daily Mail, Updated

  First Minister and ex-Chancellor take part in live two-debate on STV

  Voters to decide Scotland's fate in historic referendum on September 18

  New IpsosMORI poll puts No campaign on 54% but Yes campaign on 40%

  Up to half a million people are still undecided with just weeks to go 

  No campaign has received £2.6million, ahead of £1.5million for Yes camp

  Cameron, Clegg and Miliband sign joint declaration promising tax powers

Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling have clashed over their competing visions for the future of Scotland in the first live TV debate of the referendum campaign.

But millions of people trying to watch the historic head-to-head were dismayed after the STV website crashed under the intense demand from viewers worldwide.

In the early skirmishes, Mr Salmond repeatedly complained that independence was the only way to prevent a future Tory government while Mr Darling insisted Scotland was stronger as part of the UK.

As the political temperature rose, Mr Darling repeatedly accused Mr Darling of 'scrabbling around', claiming the First Minister has 'lots of good lines but no answers'. 

Voters in Scotland will make their big decision on independence in the historic referendum on September 18.

The No campaign has been consistently ahead in the opinion polls, despite months of intense debate, impassioned pleas and trading of facts and figures. 

One of the biggest threats to the Yes campaign has been growing doubts about the currency an independent Scotland would use

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After ditching the idea of adopting the euro, the SNP has claimed it would enter a currency union with the UK and continue to use the pound.

But the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems have all made clear they would block a deal, whoever wins the next general election.

Mr Salmond came under intense pressure about how he would continue to use the pound, faltering repeatedly about whether he has a back-up plan.

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“The best way to keep the pound would be through a currency union like today,” said Sir Martin Jacomb, former chairman of Prudential, and Sir Andrew Large, former deputy governor of the Bank of England. This is not compatible with Scotland being politically independent, and is therefore not on offer,”

Record View: Big question still left unanswered after independence referendum debate