But says he has other plans up his sleeve too, without revealing any more detail what they are at this stage

Last night saw the final TV debate between the two main parties which I highlighted yesterday and once again there was plenty of focus on the pound and Salmond’s plan to simply keep using it in some form of union. Polls say that the First Minister had the better of the battle but watching it, as I did, I’d say he’s still got a struggle on his hands to convince anyone that keeping the pound will be that simple.

Better Together leader Darling said to Salmond:

You are taking a huge risk if you think it is just all going to fall into place.

I think the currency union would be bad for Scotland because our budget would have to be approved not by us, but what would then be a foreign country. It wouldn’t be best for the rest of the country either.

Mr Salmond responded:

I set out the options very clearly – three Plan Bs for the price of one. They are just like buses… you expect one and then three turn up at once.

We don’t need permission to use our own currency. The argument actually is that they will deny us the assets of the Bank of England. The reason that won’t happen is that if you deny us the financial assets, then the UK will get stuck with all of the liabilities.”

Mr Salmond also said no chancellor would let Scotland get away with escaping its share of the debt liabilities and therefore a currency union would be agreed.

The BBC has more here including clips from the debate

The referendum takes place on 18 Sept and in the case of a Yes vote there will then follow eighteen months of protracted talks before any separation begins. If it’s a No vote we can still expect this to be a watershed in UK/Scotland relations with plenty of political and economic bargaining to be done