SNP and Plaid Cymru accuse BBC of bias in debates row

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 13:49

THE SNP and Plaid Cymru have accused the BBC of bias following the omission of their parties from the upcoming series of live general election debates.

A joint letter by SNP leader Alex Salmond and Plaid leader Leuan Wyn Jones to director general Mark Thompson accuses the channel of failing to adhere to impartiality rules that govern election coverage.

PM Gordon Brown, Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg are due to take part in the three main debates, which will be hosted by Sky News, ITV and the BBC.

All three sessions will be held in England.

The BBC has said that both the SNP and Plaid Cymru will be involved in respective 'special debates' in Scotland and Wales.

The letter states: "You will be aware that your own guidelines as well as Ofcom's code of practice does not entitle your organisation to have unfettered discretion in how you comply with your duty to impartiality during a UK general election," they wrote.

"Your correspondence with our parties does however lead us to believe that the discretion you have exercised to date in relation to your planned coverage of the 2010 UK general election is in breach of your obligations with respect to due impartiality."

The leaders also sent an open letter to media around the globe.

"We believe this is a retrograde step by the BBC which reflects an overly centralised, metropolitan and outdated attitude and which fails to meet the needs of three of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom," the letter said.

"It is extremely sad that after almost 90 years of being a world respected independent broadcaster, the BBC has allowed itself to be politically compromised in this fashion."

The BBC released a statement emphasising its views that the debates were in line with election rules.

"We have clearly set out the agreement reached on the televised Prime Ministerial debates during the general election campaign, including how impartiality will be achieved.

"The BBC has also announced it is to hold subsequent leaders' debates in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, part of a range of measures to ensure that the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Northern Ireland and other parties have appropriate opportunities to be heard.

"We will continue to speak to the parties as we develop our plans."