Scott MacNab: Ponsonby, a cool hand on the tiller

STV POLITICAL editor Bernard Ponsonby was the man in the middle of the biggest TV event of the referendum so far and presided over a feisty and passionate debate – without allowing passions to spill over.

Bernard Ponsonby stands between the two politicians. Picture: Getty

This had happened in previous STV head-to-heads involving Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her clashes with Labour leader Johann Lamont and Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael. These events came in for flak as they degenerated into little more than a “stair-heid rammy”.

Surprisingly, Ponsonby had more problems keeping control of Alistair Darling last night who was particularly aggressive in the opening stages, but it never got out of control.

The chair also put both men on the spot with Salmond accused of “disrespect” as he refused to set out a Plan B on currency and Darling left squirming as he struggled to explain the extra powers expected after a No vote.