Broadcasting watchdog urged to probe Nicola Sturgeon daily briefing

Nicola Sturgeon says she will continue to front the daily Coronavirus briefing after a Labour peer complained to the broadcasting watchdog about the platform it gives her.

Nicola Sturgeon will continue to front up the daily Coronavirus briefings

George Foulkes has written to Ofcom demanding that a public official replace the First Minister at the daily briefings as the Scottish Parliament election approaches next year.

The First Minister insisted today that she had a duty to communicate with the public about the Government's approach to tackling the pandemic.

"I will do the briefings because I think I've got a really important responsibility as First Minister to communicate public health information to the public," she said.

"Whether they are broadcast live is not a matter for me that is a matter for broadcasters."

Labour has previously raised concerns over the political approach taken by Ms Sturgeon in some of her comments at the daily briefing.

She added: "George Foulkes has never wanted these briefings to happen which I think is regrettable because it suggests that political considerations are more important than the vital imperative of communicating directly to the public in a public health emergency, but that's for him to answer for not for me."

The BBC has previously announced it would stop broadcasting the briefings every day, but backed down after concerns were raised by the Scottish Government.

Lord Foulkes told the Herald today that public health officials should present the briefings because "the rules on political impartiality continue to be flouted".

He wrote to Ofcom at the weekend calling for the "adherence to the rules of political impartiality" by the watchdog.

The peer claimed BBC Scotland refused to cover the event as if it were a news conference, and so confine it to news bulletins.

“They would not pursue this, I believe because they feel intimidated by the overbearing attitude of the Scottish Government,” he added.

"Can I therefore ask Ofcom to now investigate this with a view to insisting this with a view to insisting that BBC Scotland alter the format of the coverage of the epidemic to conform with the rules,” the letter states.

The Scottish Tories have also accused Ms Sturgeon of using the briefings “to promote SNP policy and stir up resentment”.

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