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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/20/nicola-sturgeon-quits-bbc-event-over-steve-bannon-invitation
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Nicola Sturgeon quits BBC event over Steve Bannon invitation | Nicola Sturgeon quits BBC event over Steve Bannon invitation |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has pulled out of a conference being jointly hosted by the BBC next month after learning that Donald Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon had been invited to take part. | Nicola Sturgeon has pulled out of a conference being jointly hosted by the BBC next month after learning that Donald Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon had been invited to take part. |
| Scotland’s first minister said that allowing Bannon to freely express his opinions risked “legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views”. | Scotland’s first minister said that allowing Bannon to freely express his opinions risked “legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views”. |
| She was also critical of the BBC for an attempt to justify Bannon’s inclusion at the three-day News Xchange event in Edinburgh on 13 November in an email sent to her office. | She was also critical of the BBC for an attempt to justify Bannon’s inclusion at the three-day News Xchange event in Edinburgh on 13 November in an email sent to her office. |
| She tweeted on Saturday: “I believe passionately in free speech but as @ScotGovFM I have to make balanced judgments – and I will not be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views. I regret that the BBC has put me and others in this position.” | She tweeted on Saturday: “I believe passionately in free speech but as @ScotGovFM I have to make balanced judgments – and I will not be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views. I regret that the BBC has put me and others in this position.” |
| She later added: “The email the BBC sent to my office justifying Bannon’s inclusion described him as a ‘powerful and influential figure … promoting an anti-elite movement’. This kind of language to describe views that many would describe as fascist does seem to me to run the risk of normalisation.” | She later added: “The email the BBC sent to my office justifying Bannon’s inclusion described him as a ‘powerful and influential figure … promoting an anti-elite movement’. This kind of language to describe views that many would describe as fascist does seem to me to run the risk of normalisation.” |
| The two had been scheduled to appear at the conference on different days. | The two had been scheduled to appear at the conference on different days. |
| Until August 2017 Bannon was one of Donald Trump’s most trusted aides. He left the US government after losing his seat on the national security council amid a power struggle and has since continued to champion rightwing political causes, although his appearance at events has proved controversial. In September his invitation to the New Yorker festival was withdrawn. | Until August 2017 Bannon was one of Donald Trump’s most trusted aides. He left the US government after losing his seat on the national security council amid a power struggle and has since continued to champion rightwing political causes, although his appearance at events has proved controversial. In September his invitation to the New Yorker festival was withdrawn. |
| In a statement, the BBC said Bannon had been invited on behalf of the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) News Xchange committee. | In a statement, the BBC said Bannon had been invited on behalf of the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) News Xchange committee. |
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| The statement added: “Good journalism in a world of fake news and disinformation is more vital than ever. Journalism is about asking tough questions and understanding what is happening in the world and why. | The statement added: “Good journalism in a world of fake news and disinformation is more vital than ever. Journalism is about asking tough questions and understanding what is happening in the world and why. |
| “A conference designed to analyse the big issues impacting that world isn’t an endorsement of anyone or anything – it is a function of what journalism is.” | “A conference designed to analyse the big issues impacting that world isn’t an endorsement of anyone or anything – it is a function of what journalism is.” |
| The event’s organiser, the EBU, said Bannon was a “key influencer” in the rise of populism. | The event’s organiser, the EBU, said Bannon was a “key influencer” in the rise of populism. |
| “We also consider it our journalistic responsibility to share and scrutinise a range of relevant viewpoints within the framework of a balanced debate,” a spokesperson added. | “We also consider it our journalistic responsibility to share and scrutinise a range of relevant viewpoints within the framework of a balanced debate,” a spokesperson added. |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Steve Bannon | Steve Bannon |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| BBC | BBC |
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