PRODUCERS of the new BBC Scotland political debate show have their work cut out for them after Question Time's shambolic track record.
Daebate Night previously failed to contact pro-independence groups about applications for the audience being open.
This was despite arch-Unionist group Scotland In Union being among those it did contact, inviting it to instruct its members on how to apply for the show's audience.
READ: Scottish 'Question Time' producer's message to National readers
But last week got off to a promising start with more than half of the panel – the SNP's John Swinney, poet Jenny Lindsay and entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter – pro-indy so we were hoping for more of the same in tonight's lineup.
Here's the guests:
- SNP MSP Kate Forbes
- Marsha Scott, CEO of Scottish Women's Aid
- Scottish Tory MSP Liz Smith
- Labour MP Anas Sarwar
- Alison McDonald, co-founder of Scots for Leave
Here's our #bbcdn panel this week. Joining us are @KateForbesMSP,@SWACEO, @MspLiz,@AnasSarwar and Alison MacDonald. Tomorrow at 10.45pm on the new BBC Scotland channel. https://t.co/aF7H6TG7Bg pic.twitter.com/jlgRntLKGh
— BBC Debate Night (@bbcdebatenight) 5 March 2019
Three out of the five support Scottish independence. Despite being a Brexit voter, Alison MacDonald voted Yes in 2014, Marsha Scott was on the board of Women for Independence and Kate Forbes is a long-standing advocate for Scottish independence.
This is promising as the independence debate is well and truly on the agenda in Scotland. The First Minister has promised an update on indyref2 within weeks, Yes groups are busy campaigning across the country and Brexit has put the issue into focus.
Let's hope they actually get to talk about Scottish independence and won't shorten the guests' responses ...
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here