Lib Dems: We'll fight SNP bid to ban TV debate

Published on Tuesday 22 December 2009 21:57

PLANS to broadcast election debates between the three main UK party leaders faced a legal quagmire last night as Liberal Democrats threatened court action to ensure the events were show in Scotland.

&#149 Tavish Scott: Leaders' debates must be shown in Scotland

As the SNP considers legal moves to silence the broadcasts north of the Border, Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott indicated that he too would be prepared to seek judicial intervention to ensure the events were aired across the UK.

That declaration, coupled with confirmation that the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru was also seeking legal counsel, opened up the prospect of a complex wrangle over electoral rules that demand political impartiality for broadcasters during elections.

Under the broadcasters' proposals, separate debates would be aired in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but Mr Scott said Scottish voters were entitled to hear the UK-wide debate.

"Scotland will decide the UK's next Prime Minister along with the rest of the UK," he said.

"Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron are candidates. Alex Salmond is not.

"He's not even standing for Westminster. Salmond's position is anti-democratic and arrogant."

Mr Scott said the UK leaders should be questioned on Scottish issues and added: "We will take whatever action is necessary to ensure these debates are broadcast across Scotland."

However, the SNP continued to insist that the proposals – which would see the leaders of the three main UK parties take part in 90-minute peak-time broadcasts on the BBC, Sky and ITV – breached the BBC's impartiality code. They pointed to comments made yesterday by the organisation's chief political adviser, Ric Bailey, which confirmed formal talks with the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems had taken place.

The party's general election co-ordinator, Stewart Hosie, said: "Our legal advisers believe there is a prima facie case the BBC have already breached their obligations to fairness and impartiality.

"The BBC is supposed to be Scotland's national broadcaster – not a publicity agent for the three London-based parties – and they have already failed in their duty to their Scottish audience."

Meanwhile, the First Minister's spokesman indicated he was taking the prospect of legal action "one step at a time", adding: "

With the possibility of a hung parliament, it is entirely possible the SNP and Plaid Cymru could be important in the parliamentary process and it is absolutely right and proper that parties such as the SNP and Plaid Cymru are involved."

However, political opponents said the threats showed "desperation" among the SNP.

Labour MP for Stirling Anne McGuire said: "Alex Salmond is acting like an increasingly desperate man. Trying to censor a prime ministerial debate in Scotland is outrageous. Alex Salmond isn't a candidate for Prime Minister."

For the Conservatives, David Mundell, the shadow Scottish Secretary, said it was "imperative" the debates were shown in Scotland at the same time as the rest of the UK: "The SNP are not relevant at a British general election where Alex Salmond isn't evening standing as a candidate," he said.

"He should concentrate on being First Minister rather than further grandstanding around a debate where he is neither in the running for, nor does he want to be, Prime Minister of the UK.

Politics academic Dr Thomas Lundberg of Glasgow University said he believed the weight of public opinion would see the offer to host a Scottish version of the debate as a reasonable compromise. "I think the threat of legal action is taking things too far and is a little silly," he said.

"It seems to me that the offer to hold separate events in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is reasonable and in line with what happens in Canada."

There, the five main parties participate in two debates – one in English and one in French to cater for the Qubcois electorate.