Election debates

The continuing controversy over the Leaders' Debates (your report, 13 March) highlights the BBC's attitude to risk. In antagonising the governing party in Scotland, the BBC is taking what might prove to be a very risky punt.

In effect, the BBC is gambling that the influence of the SNP will decline. Should this happen then the BBC will successfully have faced down an inconvenient challenge. However if the bet goes wrong, and SNP influence grows, then the BBC could be in an awkward situation.

In these circumstances and citing a lack of confidence born of this controversy, the SNP may insist that broadcasting is devolved, or the licence fee adjusted. Or a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation is established. Whatever happens broadcasting in Scotland will change forever.

What will the BBC have gained from its punt? In pursuing a notion inspired by Sky, the BBC may have acquired most of the risk for little return. The viewers may be bored to tears by the debates.

JOHN DRUMMOND

Kinross

The suggested compromise of a Scottish television debate between Alex Salmond and the UK party leaders (your report, 13 March) is the sensible way of breaking the impasse over the dispute over perceived political bias on the issue.

The televised debates between Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Gordon Brown will, after all, deal with issues that do not affect Scotland and will take place in English cities with audiences restricted to those who live within 30 miles of the venue. They will therefore have no relevance to the election in Scotland other than that of a remote television spectacle.

A Scottish debate between the four leaders would prove that Scots voters were not being treated as simply voting fodder or as an afterthought. After all, if the UK political parties don't consider Scotland important enough to warrant their attention, why should we consider them when deciding how to vote?

SOPHIE L ANDERSON

Marchmont Road

Edinburgh

Alex Salmond says there is "real rage against the BBC machine" (your report, 13 March) because it is not allowing him to appear in the forthcoming TV debates with three men who hope to be the next prime minister of the UK.

The rage seems to be mainly coming from Mr Salmond and not from the Scottish electorate. It is clear the BBC is doing its best to be fair to the people of the UK (including Scotland and Wales).

DONALD McBRIDE

Craigleith Hill Crescent

Edinburgh