A LABOUR peer’s complaint about Nicola Sturgeon’s briefings on the pandemic has been thrown out by the BBC, The National can reveal.
Foulkes wrote to Ofcom demanding that the First Minister be banned from doing daily press conference updates on the coronavirus crisis.
However, Ofcom referred it to the BBC under an agreed protocol for dealing with complaints.
Foulkes’ complaint followed an earlier letter to the broadcaster from Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, also complaining about the First Minister’s pandemic briefings.
Last night, a spokesman for the BBC told The National that they would be continuing to broadcast the First Minister’s briefings and that audiences were “demonstrating a significant interest” in public health information.
They said: “We’ve had on-going discussions with Lord Foulkes about our coverage of the briefings.
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“At this point in the pandemic audiences are demonstrating a significant interest in accessing relevant public health information in this way. Similar briefings are broadcast by the BBC elsewhere across the UK.”
The spokesman added that the BBC had previously responded to Baillie’s letter.
Foulkes wrote to Ofcom on Saturday demanding BBC Scotland remove the First Minister from taking the briefings and replace her with public health officials because “the rules on political impartiality continue to be flouted”.
Ofcom forwarded the former MP’s letter to the BBC.
An Ofcom protocol exists over the handling of BBC complaints.
The protocol states their procedures “must provide that a complaint must normally in the first instance be resolved by the BBC”.
In its latest report Ofcom explained: “The BBC First process gives the BBC an opportunity to resolve complaints in the first instance. However, if a complainant has completed the BBC’s own process and is not satisfied with the BBC’s final decision, they can refer the matter to Ofcom.
“In exceptional circumstances Ofcom may intervene at an earlier stage, and it can launch investigations to determine compliance as it considers appropriate.”
The First Minister hit back at Foulkes’s complaint on Monday, insisting it was her responsibility to communicate developments to the public on the pandemic.
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