Scottish election leaders’ debate: Party leaders clash over independence, healthcare and Glasgow shipyards

Scottish independence dominated discussions between the country’s five main parties

(left to right) Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie, Scottish Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale, First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, ahead of the Leaders Debate which will take place at Hopetoun House, as part of BBC Scotland's coverage of the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections (PA)

Healthcare, the Edinburgh schools' fiasco and the shipyards on Glasgow’s river Clyde all proved topics of contention during the final TV debate of the Holyrood election campaign, but it was the issue of Scottish independence that dominated clashes between the country’s five main parties.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was accused of “keeping [a] wound open” with talk of a second referendum, as she argued, along with Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens, that opportunity to continue the debate is still there if the Scottish people want it.

Held at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, the often fractious BBC Scotland debate came just days before the Scottish Parliament election on Thursday.

Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon (PA)

Alongside Ms Sturgeon and Mr Harvie, the hour-long debate also featured Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, all three of whom dubbed suggestions of another referendum as undemocratic.

Ms Sturgeon argued that if there is “clear and sustained evidence that independence has become the preference of a majority of people in Scotland then no politician has the right to stand in the way of the democratic wishes of the Scottish people.”

The First Minister added: “The question for other politicians on this platform is, ‘What is it they think gives them the right to stand in the way of a majority?’ Scotland will only become independent if a majority backs that, that is democracy and none of us should fear the democratic wishes of the people of this country."

"I believe in something, I have convictions, I have principles, I will continue to try to persuade people. But whether I succeed or not will be down to the strength of the arguments I put forward and ultimately down to the wishes of the Scottish people."

Scottish Conservative leader Ms Davidson retaliated saying: "As First Minister she has responsibilities, and her responsibilities are to all of Scotland not just the SNP.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson (PA)

"Her responsibilities mean she shouldn't be keeping this wound open, it's not good for our country, it's not good for our economy, it's not good for encouraging jobs and growth and all the things we want to see."

In light of Labour’s proposed increase to Scottish income taxes, Ms Dugdale said: "So many people just want to move on from that referendum. We have substantial new tax and welfare powers coming to the Scottish Parliament, wouldn't it be great if we just used them to talk about the future, how we will improve our schools and the NHS, create opportunities for young people and build the Scotland we all want to see."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Mr Rennie claimed the SNP was being "anti-democratic" in its continued arguments for independence, demanding that nationalists "respect the result" of the 2014 Scottish Referendum.

But Ms Sturgeon’s views were backed by Scottish Green’s Mr Harvie, who argued: "Respecting the result means respecting the fact that a substantial number of Scottish voters did vote for independence. Respecting the result doesn't mean we all have to crawl away and shut up about it. The opportunity to continue to debate this is still there."

Ms Davidson faced tough questions over the NHS, following proposals from the Scottish Conservatives saying they would reintroduce prescription charges north of the border, in order to bring in £65 million for the NHS per year.

The Tory leader said her party was "looking at increasing GP services" claiming the proportion of the NHS budget spent on primary care has been cut by the SNP.

Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie (PA)

But Mr Harvie challenged her, saying: "If we went down Ruth's line what would be next, charges to visit your GP?"

The shipyards on Glasgow's River Clyde proved a fierce point of contention in the debate, after union leaders raised concerns a contract for the yards to build new Type 26 frigates for the Navy has been delayed.

Ms Davidson said UK Government ministers had "categorically assured" her the work would go ahead, accusing Ms Sturgeon of "shameful" scaremongering, adding: "If you had had your way 14 months ago none of these frigates would have been built."

Ms Dugdale accused Ms Davidson of "having told a porkie" when she said there was no change to the Ministry of Defence order.

Additional reporting by Press Association