THE BBC presenter who "ambushed" two young SNP activists in a live radio interview has doubled down – blaming them for not being "well informed".
Young Scots for Independence (YSI) members Laura Pollock, 20, and Steven Campbell, 22, were invited on to Nihal Arthanayake's Radio 5 Live show ahead of Nicola Sturgeon's SNP conference speech on Tuesday.
LISTEN: Here's the interview with SNP youngsters BBC say was 'cordial and fair'
The BBC "lied" to the pair, telling them they were to be quizzed on what they were hoping she would say.
Instead, they were grilled on a huge range of political issues, from mental health provision to education figures.
The SNP duo struggled to regain their footing after being caught off-guard, with Arthanayake also asking them to defend education figures they later discovered were out of date.
Campbell said afterwards that the BBC had "shown themselves up as the liars they are" – with the First Minister privately messaging him on Twitter to say she was proud of how he'd done, after he had apologised to her in tears.
READ MORE:Young SNP duo: 'Liars at BBC ambushed us on live radio'
The BBC defended the interview as "fair and cordial", but the Radio 5 host has now doubled down on Twitter, attacking The National and describing Campbell and Pollock as "not well informed".
Responding to National columnist Shona Craven's column criticising the BBC, Arthanayake wrote: "They are both adult members of the SNP. I have hosted debates with younger members of political parties. We don't patronize them nor do we promise them an easy ride which is what you are implicitly suggesting we should have done. That is in fact insulting their intelligence."
They are both adult members of the SNP. I have hosted debates with younger members of political parties. We don't patronize them nor do we promise them an easy ride which is what you are implicitly suggesting we should have done. That is in fact insulting their intelligence.
— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) October 18, 2019
READ MORE: Shona Craven: BBC bullies should be ashamed of themselves
When asked why he had opened the interview by asking the pair what challenges Scotland faced outside of Brexit and independence, he said: "We spoke about a second ref though so... next. It was also not to paint the SNP as a single issue party and discuss the challenges that Scotland faces, which the SNP members weren't that aware of."
Campbell and Pollock were at the YSI stall at conference when they were approached by the BBC.
The two activists, who lacked media experience, expected a friendly chat after being told only that they would be asked about their hopes for the First Minister's speech.
Craven, responding on Twitter, said: "Brexit is the biggest challenge Scotland faces, and I credit you with enough intelligence to know this. You clearly had a list of criticisms of the SNP prepared (albeit your researchers didn't do a very good job) and wanted to do a 'gotcha'. Absolutely cringe-worthy."
The Radio 5 DJ replied: "Yes it was cringe worthy but not for the reasons outlined in your rubbish article. I presented facts, they were not well informed about the challenges facing Scotland. The texts were not sympathetic. As said, I don't patronize people who have signed up to support a party."
Craven hit back: "A bit rich to suggest anyone else was poorly informed when you had to acknowledge you might be reeling off out-of-date figures. If you were genuinely unaware that Brexit is the biggest challenge facing Scotland, I suggest you do more preparation next time."
Arthanayake said: "Pisa figures still painted a worrying picture of Scotland's education system. I'm sure you would acknowledge that. As for preparation I'd suggest fully paid up members of the SNP should look into that. But hey, you carry on deflecting. Great journalism."
Another Twitter user then linked the presenter to an article on the BBC's own website calling into question the accuracy of Pisa figures.
''Pisa figures still painted a worrying picture of Scotland's education system''
— Tory McToryface.Cybernat.bot (@clmbie) October 18, 2019
In your humble opinion surely.
Your qualification to make this assessment is?https://t.co/fwMDcX7ViE
READ MORE: Experts say BBC ‘misleading’ people on Scotland’s NHS in open letter
Speaking to The National earlier this week, Campbell told us the message he would give to the BBC.
He said: “You’ve shown yourself up for the liars that you are. I have defended the BBC before from bias, but this is just – now that I’ve experienced it …
“And I want to say to them you just knocked somebody’s confidence, someone who has suffered with bad social anxiety in the past, you’ve knocked their confidence for a reason I don’t understand.
“I hope you’re proud of yourself. I have a No-voting friend, and she said to me directly because of what the BBC did she’s going to be voting Yes. It’s backfired on them.”
Pollock agreed, saying: “The BBC lied. I’m incredibly disappointed in them. I don’t want my relationship with any press body, but them as well, to be one of suspicion and mistrust. That’s not what we want."
A BBC spokesperson said: “The interview focused on the party’s policies with two of its supporters. The tone was cordial and fair throughout. Those involved have not raised any issues with us.”
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