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BBC to 'look at' SNP debate ideas BBC to 'look at' SNP debate ideas
(40 minutes later)
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond wants to see a fourth "leaders" debate which would include the SNP and Welsh Nationalists Plaid Cymru. The BBC has said it would consider SNP proposals aimed at resolving a row over forthcoming general election television debates, after talks with Alex Salmond.
Mr Salmond met BBC executives over his exclusion from the three presidential-style debates, which are to be hosted by the BBC, Sky News and ITV. The corporation's chief political adviser Ric Bailey said a meeting with the first minister was constructive.
The debates will be held between the leaders of the three main UK parties. The three main UK party leaders are due to take part in debates on the BBC, Sky and ITV in the run-up to the election.
The BBC said the discussions were "very useful and constructive" and it would look at Mr Salmond's proposal. The SNP complained about being excluded and called for another debate involving UK leaders, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.
But the corporation's chief political adviser Ric Bailey insisted there would be plenty of opportunities for the SNP to be heard during the election campaign. The SNP said during the two-hour meeting it had proposed a separate debate on constitutional issues and other issues of concern to Scotland and Wales.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat chief Nick Clegg are due to take part in the debates in the run-up to the general election. Afterwards, Mr Salmond said: "We await the BBC's response to this idea before determining our next steps."
The exclusion of the SNP infuriated party chiefs. He added: "It remains deeply unsatisfactory that neither the BBC nor ITV are prepared to reopen the 90 minutes of debate or their closed shop deal with the three London parties.
The two-hour meeting in Edinburgh was held to tackle issues raised by the SNP. "As a result it is clear that not just the interests of the SNP and Plaid Cymru, the parties of government in both Scotland and Wales, but the interests of the Scottish people risk being sidelined at key points in this election campaign."
'Being sidelined' Accused of bias
Afterwards, First Minister Alex Salmond said: "It remains deeply unsatisfactory that neither the BBC nor ITV are prepared to reopen the 90 minutes of debate or their closed shop deal with the three London parties. The SNP leader has claimed the exclusion of his party and Plaid Cymru called into question "the impartiality of the BBC in advance of the general election".
"As a result it is clear that not just the interests of the SNP and Plaid Cymru, the parties of government in both Scotland and Wales, but the interests of the Scottish people risk being sidelined at key points in this election campaign.
"The BBC are particularly culpable as a national broadcaster whose obligations to licence fee payers in Scotland should be as great as to those in England."
To say that if he doesn't get his face on the telly that the election is illegitimate and that the people of Scotland have been disenfranchised is, quiet frankly, bonkers David CairnsLabour MP
Mr Bailey said: "They came up with a number of questions and a number of suggestions that I'm going to take away and talk to colleagues on the BBC about.
"We talked to them about the UK debate but also the debate among the leaders in Scotland, and about all the things that we're going to be doing during the campaign to ensure due impartiality."
Mr Salmond has claimed the exclusion of the SNP and Plaid Cymru called into question "the impartiality of the BBC in advance of the general election".
Both he and the Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones accused the BBC of bias in a joint letter to BBC director general Mark Thompson on Thursday.Both he and the Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones accused the BBC of bias in a joint letter to BBC director general Mark Thompson on Thursday.
Last week, the SNP leader questioned whether the broadcaster was the "British Broadcasting Corporation or the English Broadcasting Corporation", and claimed the BBC was running the risk of alienating viewers in the devolved nations. But, following the discussions, Mr Bailey insisted there would be plenty of opportunities for the SNP to be heard during the election campaign.
"They came up with a number of questions and a number of suggestions that I'm going to take away and talk to colleagues on the BBC about," he said.
"We talked to them about the UK debate but also the debate among the leaders in Scotland, and about all the things that we're going to be doing during the campaign to ensure due impartiality."
The SNP also held talks with ITV on Friday afternoon to discuss the issue.
'No part''No part'
The row has been criticised by other parties.
Labour MP David Cairns said: "I think this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, even by Alex Salmond's standards.Labour MP David Cairns said: "I think this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, even by Alex Salmond's standards.
"To say that if he doesn't get his face on the telly that the election is illegitimate and that the people of Scotland have been disenfranchised is, quiet frankly, bonkers.""To say that if he doesn't get his face on the telly that the election is illegitimate and that the people of Scotland have been disenfranchised is, quiet frankly, bonkers."
Conservative David Mundell MP said: "What Alex Salmond seems incapable of admitting is that he isn't even standing as a candidate in this British general election.Conservative David Mundell MP said: "What Alex Salmond seems incapable of admitting is that he isn't even standing as a candidate in this British general election.
"There is absolutely no prospect of him being Prime Minister, therefore, he has no part to play in these prime ministerial debates.""There is absolutely no prospect of him being Prime Minister, therefore, he has no part to play in these prime ministerial debates."
Although all three party leader debates are to be held in England, special debates are also being scheduled for Scotland and Wales as part of efforts to ensure balance.