Alistair Darling has warned that Scotland's social union would come under increased pressure if the country votes for independence come 18 September.

Alistair Darling has warned that Scotland's social union would come under increased pressure if the country votes for independence come 18 September.

Addressing a packed conference at The Gathering in Glasgow, the chair of the Better Together campaign said Scotland's social unity was underpinned by the economic and political union with the United Kingdom with all three vital to make the country prosper.

It comes after Alex Salmond addressed the same event on Wednesday, saying an independent Scotland would work in partnership with the third sector and would be far more effective in tackling inequality and need.

However Darling told delegates sharing resources was a "fundamental part" of the UK and was the best way to respond to social inequality.

"The United Kingdom is far more than an economic and political union; the social union is a fundamental part too and these three elements are what makes the UK what it is.

"63 million people are stronger financially than 5.2 million - that's a stark economic fact," he said.

Darling revisited the issue of cross-border fundraising, emphasising that a vote for independence could potentially leave the third sector worse off financially.

"Take the National Lottery," he said. "No-one buying a ticket in Reading is concerned their money won't be spent in the place they bought the ticket.

"Equally someone buying a ticket in Glasgow isn't worried it will be spent in England. That's part of the pooling and sharing of resources that is absolutely critical to the third sector and society in general."

The debate is too important to leave to those who normally vote.

Darling was joined at the event by a panel of representatives of Scottish charities.

Tressa Burke from Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) said economics was not an excuse for inequality.

"Disabled people should have the same lives as others in an independent or a non-independent Scotland," she said. "Many disabled people will view the referendum as opportunity for them to have their rights protected because all they have known is stretched budgets, poverty and hardship."

Peter Scott of Enable Scotland said the debate so far had excluded disabled people as few efforts had been made by political parties to engage them.

"For disabled people it's very confusing," he said. "They don't feel directly engaged because they aren't. So my question on behalf of them is: if we have more of the same how will their needs be met? They already face significant challenges - will those be addressed post-18 September?"

Darling re-emphasised the fact that welfare support would still be a challenge for an independent Scotland and an independent government would have to make stark financial decisions that would give to some but take from others.

Martin Johnstone, chief executive of Faith in Community Scotland, added that a true social union that tackled the current inequalities had to be the aim of any political change following the referendum, emphasising the need for the debate to shift from the political classes to the wider public.

"The debate is too important to leave to those who normally vote," he said. "I myself am undecided as to how I will vote but I know that unless more people from very ordinary backgrounds are engaged then there will be problems, their issues and their concerns will be ignored and left unaddressed."

The events panelists tell TFN what they made of Alistair Darling's address