SCOTLAND Tonight will be hosting a discussion about the Scottish Budget but is excluding a key party from the debate.
The Greens were not invited to appear on the news programme with the SNP and the Tories. It is understood they were told an MSP was not needed because they would be featured in the video package.
The Green party's head of media, Jason Rose, tweeted: "Our role is crucial. I've made my views clear to the programme producer & STV's Head of News. I hope they reflect on the fact they are failing their viewers."
Disappointed Scotland Tonight will be discussing #ScotBudget with SNP & Tories but not @scotgp. Our role is crucial. I've made my views clear to the programme producer & STV's Head of News. I hope they reflect on the fact they are failing their viewers.
— Jason Rose (@mr_jason_rose) January 31, 2019
Co convener of the Green party in Aberdeen, Guy Ingerson, also tweeted his dismay.
This makes absolutely no sense.
— Guy Ingerson 🏴💚 (@guy_ingerson) January 31, 2019
Come on @ScotlandTonight & @WeAreSTV, Green voices were crucial today. #ScotBudget https://t.co/kewd2pjUDC
You would think the Greens would be an essential voice in the debate, given they were the deciding vote in the Budget passing this afternoon.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay’s Budget was on course for defeat, thanks to the SNP's lack of a majority in the Scottish Parliament ... so they needed the support of at least two MSPs to push it through.
But before the debate started, Mackay said he was "pleased to have reached agreement with the Scottish Green Party to deliver a Scottish Budget that invests in health, education, our economy and supports local services".
Pleased to have reached agreement with the Scottish Green Party to deliver a Scottish Budget that invests in health, education, our economy and supports local services. I look forward to setting out details to Parliament shortly. #scotbudget
— Derek Mackay MSP (@DerekMackaySNP) January 31, 2019
Also commenting on the agreement, Scottish Greens co-convenor Partick Harvie tweeted: "Finally, after months of hard work and Green pressure for local tax reform and protection of local services, we have reached a budget agreement between @scotgp and @scotgov. This is what constructive politics looks like. #leadingthechange."
Finally, after months of hard work and Green pressure for local tax reform and protection of local services, we have reached a budget agreement between @scotgp and @scotgov. This is what constructive politics looks like. #leadingthechange
— Patrick Harvie 🇪🇺 (@patrickharvie) January 31, 2019
It seems strange to us that STV wouldn't recognise that...
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