ALEX Salmond and Johann Lamont have made pleas to the people and politicians over the referendum.

In the final debate in the Scottish Parliament before the referendum, the First Minister said Scotland had the chance to take a different path from Westminster and resist austerity and privatisation.

Labour leader Ms Lamont urged a No vote and called for a commitment of all parties to work together after the poll.

Alex Salmond said Scotland must take the opportunity of independence to create a fairer society

Ms Lamont said that whatever the result, politics in Scotland had to change, and the best way to create a fairer society was through sharing the resources of a larger union of 60 million people instead of five million.

In a rare occasion where the party leaders led in a debate, Mr Salmond said the referendum had energised people throughout the country, while Ms Lamont said it had divided communities and left Scotland on pause.

Mr Salmond said Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

He said: "The challenge is to make sure the people have the opportunity to share in that enormous wealth."

He continued the recent Yes campaign theme of protecting the NHS and said Scotland would be "able to resist the privatisation happening south of the border as funding is still at the mercy of a party that Alistair Darling said relishes the chance to swing the axe."

He added "If we take the powers we need and use them well and work hard, over time we create a more prosperous country and also a fairer society."

Mr Salmond ended his speech with a plea to voters who have become engaged in the debate.

He said: "We have the ability and talent and resources in abundance.

"The people of Scotland are waking up to the opportunity we have on September 18. Let's take it."

Ms Lamont appealed to politicians on both sides to respect the result and work for a better country.

She said: "I embrace the opportunity that this referendum presents, the opportunity finally to answer the constitutional question and agree among us the settled will of the people of Scotland."

She then said her head and her heart told her to vote no in the referendum.

She said: "I believe that borders, literal or metaphorical should be broken down not erected.

"I disagree with Alex Salmond because he disagrees with the values of the Labour Party."

Ms Lamont also made a plea to her parliamentary colleagues to put the divisions behind them.

She added: "Let the people decide and then let's get on with the hard work of changing Scotland for the better.

"If there is a Yes vote I will accept it. If there is a No vote I demand and equal commitment from the other side of this chamber.

"Politics can't be the same again. We need a parliament to mature and do its job.

"We can't go back to the politics of the last few years - we need to come together."

Ruth Davidson made her plea for keeping the UK, which she said had the ability to act and make the world a better and safer place.

She cited military interventions, international aid and scientific research as ways in which the UK was able to help people around the world.

She said: "When I look at Britain I see one of the greatest nations of this earth.

"I see a country that is willing to shoulder its burden, one that offers a platform of opportunity.

"If you look around the world, we are one of the good guys, we are one of the countries that other people aspire to be like."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk