SNP put forward alternative election debate proposals

Published on Friday 19 March 2010 16:41

ALEX SALMOND launched a fresh bid today to take the stage alongside the Prime Minister during a televised General Election debate.

• Alex Salmond

The First Minister and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones urged the BBC to include them in a debate alongside Tory, Lib Dem and Labour leaders and give them the opportunity to answer an agreed number of questions.

Their joint letter to BBC director general Mark Thompson suggests that allowing them to line up alongside Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron "would be both proportionate and fair".

The Scottish and Welsh party leaders also proposed a fourth television debate involving both them and the main UK parties, with the proviso it is filmed in either Scotland or Wales and addresses "topics of relevance" to viewers in the devolved nations.

The TV debates are currently all due to be filmed in English cities.

The BBC is one of three broadcasters hosting presidential-style debates between the main UK parties prior to the election.

Mr Salmond has repeatedly stated that the corporation's failure to include the leaders of devolved nations in televised debates contradicts their public service remit.

Their letter states that the debates "as they currently stand are deeply unfair to voters in both Scotland and Wales" and suggests that the BBC "has not put forward proposals which would ensure fairness and impartial coverage of the General Election campaign".

It states: "A healthy democracy requires fair competition between the alternative policy positions being offered at election time.

"For politics to be about healthy debate and the winning of hearts and minds, rather than about tribal political affiliation, then parties in reasonable competition must be given similar opportunities to present their policy platforms to the electorate.

"Without a properly-informed electorate, the conditions for a free election are not possible."

The letter concludes by urging Mr Thompson to consider their proposals fully.

Mr Salmond said: "By cutting out three of the four nations which make up the UK and two parties of government, the BBC have totally failed to accurately present the choices facing voters at the upcoming General Election.

"Since the corporation have so far failed to put forward constructive proposals for redressing the balance, the SNP and Plaid Cymru have taken this step."

Mr Jones said: "The BBC's fixation on the London parties shows a depressingly metropolitan mindset. They simply must find a way to accommodate the choices facing voters in Scotland and Wales."