NICOLA Sturgeon had dismissed “ridiculous” claims she’s hiding from scrutiny after it was announced she would not be taking part in a Question Time election special.
The BBC programme will feature Scottish Tory, Labour, LibDem and Green leaders, with the SNP’s depute chief, Keith Brown, representing his party.
The First Minister’s absence sparked claims from her opponents that she is trying to “dodge scrutiny”.
However, the SNP chief has revealed what she will be doing instead – radio phone-ins with members of the public.
Sturgeon will face questions from voters on shows hosted by Radio Clyde and other stations tonight while the Question Time debate airs on the BBC.
She told Clyde: “I think even my harshest critic would know it’s ridiculous to accuse me of running away from debates. I’ve probably done more leaders’ debates than any other politician in the entirety of the UK over my time in politics.
“I’ve done two leader’s debates in this campaign and there’ll be more to come.”
Looking ahead to the radio phone-ins, she added: “I think it’s also important to speak directly to voters and I’m very much looking forward to the phone-in later.”
Much has been made of @NicolaSturgeon not appearing alongside other party leaders on Question Time tonight @thesnp leader has been accused of hiding from voters
— Alan Smith (@Political_AlanS) April 22, 2021
So what is she doing instead? 👇 pic.twitter.com/UDE7lHYHlL
READ MORE: SNP rubbish claims Nicola Sturgeon snubbed BBC Question Time debate
Unionist politicians have expressed outrage over the First Minister’s absence from the Question Time debate.
They claimed that they were told to expect an all-leaders debate, and that Sturgeon agreed to join before pulling out.
According to The Herald an email dated April 12 showed a member of the Question Time team telling a party press officer that they were “inviting Scottish party leaders to take part in the show”.
Scottish Tory candidate Annie Wells said: “The SNP are at it with their pathetic excuses. As early as March 8, BBC bosses were telling the Scottish Conservatives they wanted all five party leaders. Question Time clearly asked for Nicola Sturgeon and they’ve been forced to accept her lackey instead.”
A Scottish Labour source claimed Sturgeon is “hiding from scrutiny from the press and the public”.
However, The National understands that the programme has not been billed by the BBC as a leaders special, but a regular edition of the broadcaster’s flagship show hosted from Scotland ahead of the May 6 election.
According to the SNP there “has never been any suggestion that the First Minister would be taking part in this debate”.
“The BBC did not include Question Time in their requests for leaders participation,” a spokesperson said.
“The SNP was asked for an SNP representative and the SNP’s depute leader will be appearing.
“It is for other parties who they chose to put forward to represent their parties.”
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