THE SNP have issued an update on broadcasting members grilling the party’s leadership hopefuls after a meeting was held behind closed doors.
Members of the press had expected to be able to watch Sunday’s online hustings – held between 1pm and 3pm – on the internet.
When asked why the weekend event was not being broadcast, after the first three were, an SNP spokesperson said: “All in-person hustings will be lived streamed - the next of which is tomorrow, 7pm, in Dumfries."
This means Sunday’s event took place without any media present.
The party previously found itself in hot water and forced into a U-turn after attempting to ban all media from the events.
Holding the hustings in private would have provided a “safe space” for members to debate, the party said.
This was criticised by all three candidates and eventually SNP HQ relented.
Labour's Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary, said: “It’s no wonder the SNP want to hide this dire leadership contest from the public eye, but this is a grossly undemocratic move.
“They cannot choose the next first minister of Scotland behind closed doors.
“The SNP must make another u-turn and end this indefensible secrecy now.”
The upcoming hustings are as follows
- March 6 - Dumfries, 7pm - 9pm
- March 8 - Johnstone, 7pm - 9pm
- March 10 - Edinburgh, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
- March 11 - Glasgow, 1pm - 3pm
- March 11 - The National/SNP TUG, 5pm
- March 12 - Aberdeen, 1pm - 3pm
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