THE BBC has defended its vetting process for Question Time after a former Conservative MSP and several councillors were included in the audience on this week’s show in Elgin.
Mary Scanlon, who represented the Highlands and Islands region at Holyrood between 1999 and 2006 and 2007 and 2016, spoke for almost a minute about the future of the Conservatives during the show broadcast on Thursday night.
Moray Conservative and Unionist councillors Frank Brown and Claire Feaver and treasurer Jane Lax were also seen in the audience.
SNP MP Stewart McDonald spotted Scanlon, sparking a fresh row over the BBC's vetting process.
He asked: “Why is former Tory MSP Mary Scanlon – 1999 to 2016 – pretending to be an audience punter on #BBCQT?”
Here's the moment where "the women there in the black" (to quote Fiona Bruce) gets nearly a minute to chat Tory politics with the Tory on the panel. The woman there in the black is former Tory MSP Mary Scanlon - politician for 17 years in Holyrood. pic.twitter.com/za7ghVmqkg
— Leo Mikłasz (@leomiklasz) May 16, 2019
MSP Jenny Gilruth added: “Why is Mary Scanlon, former Tory MSP, being allowed to ask questions as if she’s a normal punter on #BBCQT? Outrageous.”
Responding to fierce online criticism, a BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster’s selection process ensures a “range of views are heard”.
A statement read: “Question Time does not bar people from its audience because they have held elected office or are political activists.
“There is a selection process to ensure a range of views are heard and last night’s QT audience included supporters of different political parties, including the SNP.”
UPDATE from tonight’s #BBCQT:
— StoviesPlz (@Stoviesplz) May 17, 2019
1. Claire Feaver Tory councillor Forres.
2. Frank Brown, Tory councillor Elgin.
3. Jane Lax (featured by BBC), Moray Conservatives Honary treasurer.
4. Ian Lax, Tory campaigner and unionist #connect4 pic.twitter.com/Ax6UX0r9jn
The application form for the programme requires prospective guests to say whether they have previously been on the show, and when.
Guests must also reveal who they would be most likely to vote for in a General Election, how they voted in the EU referendum, and whether they are a member of a political party.
The BBC had come under fire before the show even aired for the show’s pro-Unionist panel.
READ MORE: Greens hit out at BBC over 'anti-independence' Question Time bias
It featured Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine of the LibDems, Tory MP Bim Afolami and Scottish lawyer Eilidh Douglas, a Tory Brexiteer and Amnesty International UK vice-chair.
Question Time producers have previously been criticised by viewers for the repeated appearances of former Ukip candidate, Billy Mitchell, on the flagship political panel show.
READ MORE: Revealed: Question Time secretly edited SNP answer to Unionist plant
The SNP also hit out at the BBC after Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop’s response to Mitchell’s angry Unionist rant was heavily edited.
Respoding to that controversy, SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “If the BBC is going to maintain the confidence of the audience it is vital that Question Time is fully transparent and accountable around its decision making.
“Day by day new details are emerging about last week’s programme, all of which are deeply troubling and not a good look for the BBC.
“Question Time has got itself in a real mess in recent weeks, and we will be meeting with the BBC to outline all of our concerns.”
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