Nationalists scale down demands over TV debates

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 21:58

SCOTTISH and Welsh yesterday offered a major compromise in their dispute with broadcasters over the election leaders' debates.

SNP leader Alex Salmond and Plaid Cymru's Ieuan Wyn Jones accepted that they would not have "parity" in the televised debates but wanted to play some part in them.

Mr Salmond said that the "bottom line" for the two was to be able to take part in the three debates on BBC, ITV and Sky, which many people believe will define the forthcoming election. In doing so, he moved away from the previous position of wanting some form of parity.

Last week the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson suggested a solution could be found if the broadcasters gave them the equivalent of the 90 minutes' coverage they would lose out on.

Mr Salmond said it was like being allowed to play at Wembley or being a pundit discussing the game after it was over. "There's a world of difference," he said.

The two party leaders also warned that if they were excluded, voters in Wales and Scotland would be "disenfranchised".

And Mr Wyn Jones said that if they were forced to sit on the sidelines, the "integrity of the result" would be called into question.

The SNP and Plaid Cymru also continued their joint assault on the BBC, which they claim has given up on its historic impartiality and is becoming an "English" Broadcasting Corporation. BBC bosses will finally discuss the debate with the SNP on Friday after weeks of ignoring pleas for a meeting.

But yesterday the Tories and Labour accused Mr Salmond of behaving like a spoilt child.

Conservative shadow secretary of state for Scotland, David Mundell, said: "The SNP will have ample opportunity in numerous debates in Scotland to put their case to the people during the election."