SNP's official complaint over TV snub

THE SNP today lodged a formal complaint against the BBC over its refusal to include Alex Salmond in the televised leaders' debates in the general election run-up.

Mr Salmond wrote to the BBC Trust, the guardians of the corporation's charter, asking it to investigate the BBC's "editorial and creative direction".

The move came as the First Minister was due to hold talks with BBC and ITV bosses in Edinburgh today.

Mr Salmond has been excluded from the three TV debates which will only feature Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

The SNP said it had not even been able to secure a meeting with the BBC on the issue until today.

Mr Salmond said: "We believe the agreement signed last week strikes at the heart of the independence of the BBC and is a betrayal of the principles upon which the editorial integrity of the BBC is built."