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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| SNP awaits court debate decision | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The SNP is awaiting the outcome of a legal bid over its exclusion from Thursday's leaders' debate on BBC One. | |
| Submissions have been made to a judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by the Scottish National Party and the BBC. | |
| The SNP's QC said "there is no right to see an unfair debate" but the BBC insisted the demands were "impractical" and "ultimately pointless". | |
| The judge, Lady Smith, said she hoped to have a result by lunchtime. | |
| The SNP raised £50,000 to pay for the legal process. | The SNP raised £50,000 to pay for the legal process. |
| The court papers state that the SNP is seeking an interim interdict against the BBC broadcasting the leaders' debate in Scotland if it does not feature the SNP. | The court papers state that the SNP is seeking an interim interdict against the BBC broadcasting the leaders' debate in Scotland if it does not feature the SNP. |
| It said it was not trying to stop the broadcast but the inclusion of an SNP politician was "a simple argument for fairness". | It said it was not trying to stop the broadcast but the inclusion of an SNP politician was "a simple argument for fairness". |
| Public interest | Public interest |
| The BBC's lawyer Gerry Moynihan QC said it was "completely contrary" to the public interest. | |
| He argued that the SNP had failed to take into account that, as well as being shown on BBC One, the debate will also be broadcast on the radio, the internet and Sky. | He argued that the SNP had failed to take into account that, as well as being shown on BBC One, the debate will also be broadcast on the radio, the internet and Sky. |
| The QC told the court the Nationalists had a "considerable problem" in relation to the timing of the action, claiming they had "stood idly by" when the two earlier debates were held. | The QC told the court the Nationalists had a "considerable problem" in relation to the timing of the action, claiming they had "stood idly by" when the two earlier debates were held. |
| Labour said SNP leader Alex Salmond was "more interested in trying to win newspaper headlines, because he knows he isn't winning the argument". | Labour said SNP leader Alex Salmond was "more interested in trying to win newspaper headlines, because he knows he isn't winning the argument". |
| Conservative Scottish affairs spokesman David Mundell said Mr Salmond's attempts to be part of the UK leaders' debates was "nothing but posturing". | Conservative Scottish affairs spokesman David Mundell said Mr Salmond's attempts to be part of the UK leaders' debates was "nothing but posturing". |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg branded the proposed legal action as a "measure of desperation". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg branded the proposed legal action as a "measure of desperation". |
| In London, UKIP said it had written to the BBC Director General, Mark Thompson, giving him a deadline of noon to agree to include their leader Lord Pearson. | In London, UKIP said it had written to the BBC Director General, Mark Thompson, giving him a deadline of noon to agree to include their leader Lord Pearson. |
| If the request is not met, the party said it would seek a judicial review of the decision by applying to the Administrative Court at 1400 BST. | If the request is not met, the party said it would seek a judicial review of the decision by applying to the Administrative Court at 1400 BST. |