SNP appeals over BBC's freedom of information knockback

Published on Monday 8 March 2010 21:34

THE SNP has appealed to the UK Information Commissioner over the BBC's refusal to release details of talks held with the three major UK parties on the leaders debate.

The party is fighting for Alex Salmond to be included alongside Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg in the presidential-style TV debates, and believes Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats blocked them during discussions with the broadcaster.

The BBC refused the FOI request, arguing that information for journalism was exempt.

Stewart Hosie MP, the SNP's Westminster campaign co-ordinator, who lodged the request, said: "Not content with cutting Scottish viewers out of the election, the BBC are now refusing to justify themselves to the fee-paying public. The BBC and the three London parties have carved out a deal for themselves that leaves Scotland's viewers and voters short-changed."

Labour MP David Cairns said: "This is getting more ridiculous by the day.

"First the SNP tried to force Alex Salmond into these debates despite the fact he isn't even standing in the general election, then they threatened legal action, then they called for the licence fee to be scrapped – and now they are pursuing a pointless FOI request.

"There will be several debates in Scotland which the SNP can participate in, so people will be wondering why they're complaining.

"This row with the BBC makes the SNP look desperate. They should accept the fact that they are a fringe party in this election."

A Conservative spokesman added: "Now that the SNP is a big fan of FOI, maybe Alex Salmond will release all the blanked out pages of its correspondence with STV to show the truth behind all the public money he spent taking The Bill and Miss Marple off the screen."