ANGUS Robertson has called for urgent action on the BBC’s coverage of Scotland, saying the broadcaster could no longer be defended.
The comments came in an open letter from Robertson to director general Tony Hall, as he argued the BBC’s failings north of the Border have become a “leadership issue”.
Former SNP Westminster leader Robertson worked as a journalist at the BBC in the 90s on the World Service, Radio 4 and BBC Scotland, and, while a politician, was invited by bosses to give feedback on its reporting.
In the letter, which you can read in his National column today, he said: “Unfortunately, just as Brexit chaos has consumed Westminster, the Brexit debacle has skewed the BBC yet further.
READ MORE: Angus Robertson: BBC Director General must take decisive action
“Up until now the problem has been largely the sin of omission: like almost totally ignoring major set-piece news events in Scotland like the budget.
“Now however there is an additional problem: the sin of commission. Question Time remains a flagship BBC programme, and last week’s debacle in Motherwell was a low-point for many viewers in Scotland.
READ MORE: Question Time faces furious backlash over audience bias
“As a friend and fan of the BBC I cannot defend how BBC network news and current affairs programmes are covering Scotland, and I don’t think you can either. This is now a leadership issue and I hope you act decisively, because it cannot go on like this."
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC will respond to Mr Robertson in due course.”
Meanwhile, the angry Unionist who appeared in the audience on Question Time in Motherwell has published an invitation from BBC Scotland for one of its shows.
Billy Mitchell ranted uninterrupted for more than a minute at SNP minister Fiona Hyslop, with her response cut to seven seconds in the broadcast after he interjected with a comment that could not be broadcast for legal reasons.
READ MORE: Our questions for the BBC over Billy Michell's Question Time invitation
Mitchell has said the BBC invited him to apply for Question Time's audience, which it has denied – even claiming in a letter sent to all Scottish MPs and MSPs that he had given false information in his application form.
Sent on February 2, the invitation Mitchell posted on Twitter was for a pilot of Debate Night, the Question Time-style show to be launched on the new BBC Scotland channel.
It said: “Further to your interest in being part of the audience for BBC Question Time I would like to invite you to take part in a similar studio debate.”
It is not clear how many of those who applied for the Motherwell show received this invitation, but not all did.
READ MORE: Question Time's Unionist regular will NOT be invited back
The BBC has refused to confirm whether Mitchell was at the Debate Night pilot, citing data protection laws.
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