Debate Night – where impartiality goes to die

The National

27-04-2025

Of course, this will not surprise those who thought that BBC Scotland was set up to fail, and given that the channel has persistently ignored the fact that more than half of the population thinks that Scotland should at least have the democratic right of Northern Ireland to hold a referendum should polls indicate support for constitutional change, it appears they were correct.
The first question posed by the host Stephen Jardine related to public institutions moving forward after the recent Supreme Court ruling, but although the host pointed out that there were no representatives of the Scottish Greens or LibDems on the panel and that the SNP representative, Fergus Ewing 'has taken a different position on this to the Scottish Government'. No mention was made by the host that all parties, except the Tories, supported the Scottish Government.
The second selected audience question posed to the panel asked: 'Is the NHS safe in the SNP's hands?' During this so-called debate, not once did the host point out, even during a nearly three-minute sermon by the Labour representative, Torcuil Crichton, that the NHS was struggling across the UK and that in Labour-run Wales, NHS waiting times are longer and the standard of service is generally poorer than in Scotland.
The third question posed about what can be done 'to stop people moving away from the Highlands' was not contextualised by the host with the information that for many decades people throughout Scotland have been drawn away from their local communities because of the lack of infrastructure investment by the UK Government. That said, panellist Lesley Riddoch did make the constructive suggestion of changing the ridiculous and deplorable UK electricity pricing system which sees the Highlands, 'blessed' with 'massive' renewable energy resources, paying among the highest prices in the developed world.
The final question posed related to the length of time being taken to dual the A9 and while again more political propaganda from Mr Crichton went unchallenged, no mention was made by the host that the SNP were outvoted by the other parties when they wished to divert funds earmarked for the Edinburgh trams to the A9 project back in 2007.
Certainly I am not the biggest fan of the BBC's Question Time and host Fiona Bruce, but there is no doubt that Ms Bruce is 'well-briefed' to defend UK Government policies – whenever an SNP representative appears on the 'show', not only do interruptions from the host often immediately follow, but Ms Bruce repeatedly interjects with counter-arguments generally slanted in favour of the UK Government. This approach does not reflect the impartiality we should expect from the BBC and the apparent determination by BBC Scotland to vilify, rather than 'defend', the Scottish Government makes a mockery of any stated claims of achieving political balance.
Of course the SNP in government have made many mistakes and could do much better, especially if not constrained by a perverse devolution settlement. However, proper scrutiny by a public service provider should not extend to blatant political bias and unless BBC Scotland's directors cease dancing to London's tune then 'Debate Night no more' should be followed by 'BBC Scotland no more'.
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
OH Lesley Riddoch, you've clouted the SNP nail on its heid (again). Independence must be up front and central in the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.
As a grassroot flyer deliverer, I have decided that if election printed material doesn't include a call for independence then I will not deliver any. There's several ways to include independence, here are some samples.
Scotland stronger ONLY with independence.
Make Hamilton better ONLY with independence.
Reduce lecky and gas bills ONLY with independence.
John Swinney has publicly committed to advancing the independence cause and must follow through beginning with the by-election. Let us see independence flying in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
John Swinney will be familiar with the question asked by the king in the ballad Sir Patrick Spens. While drinking his 'blood red wine', he asks: 'Where can a find a skeely skipper to sail this good ship o mine?'
Is John Swinney the 'skeely skipper' able to sail the SNP ship to independence?
His reputation will be on the line if he backs away from using independence and of course if he fails to win the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.
Thom Cross
Carluke
A GOOD and interesting long letter from Iain Bruce (April 22). While there are many things within his debate and analysis, there is one stand-out paragraph, the second, where instead of a reasoned argument as elsewhere in the letter, Iain makes a positive assertion, if not assumption, about a third party's intentions, ie John Swinney and colleagues. There is no foundation for such a statement especially as Iain then goes on to give reasons why the headline will not happen. That second paragraph is a throwaway and adds nothing but a prejudiced diversion away from what really needs to happen.
Elections are about the next up administering our country – that includes the very many things and policies that affect us all and is not and cannot be about a single issue. Those elections are also about our current working within the constitution as it stands. And that is why when there is a single issue to be discussed, we seek a referendum on that issue, so voters are not distracted by all the other factors. So, while it is correct to say that post-2014 we have not held another referendum, it seriously ignores the reasons why we have not had one. Every election since 2014 has included a desire to hold another test of opinion, and indeed many discussions have been had and rebuffed by the Unionists who hold the constitutional authority to hold one. We have even had a Supreme Court ruling on whether or not we could go it alone with a referendum and been turned down. Whose fault is that?
The principal problem is that at each of the elections since 2011, the electorate has not given us a single-party majority authority, we have even already tried a coalition vote in favour of a referendum, twice. The only thing we do know is that in 2011, we gained a single-party majority which gave formal authority for the then first minister, Alex Salmond, to get a Section 35 order approved which we then lost. No amount of hand-wringing and complaints by the activists alters the lack of electorate support when it was needed and counted.
A little bit of thought also shows that in the event of independence, our MSPs will still be there and continue to be paid, so how does a statement about being comfortable with the salaries etc relate to the rest of the letter?
Nick Cole
Meigle, Perthshire
THIS is just a random note summarising a sense of what has gone on this year – globally, in the UK and here in Scotland.
We're understandably mesmerised by the mess in the US and (even for Trump) the astonishing chaos.
What I'd take from that implosion would be the big Democrat win in Wisconsin's recent court race, decisively overturning a Republican majority – despite Elon Musk literally paying voters $1 million and the Trump cabal spending more than $21m on their guy.
Here in the UK, we have the other big mess which is the latest Labour administration. It began with the abandonment of poor children (two-child benefit cap), the abandonment of the elderly (winter fuel payments) and the abandonment of principles with designer swag paid for by Lord Alli for the Labour leader. If Starmer is unable to buy his own or his wife's clothes, how does he think the rest of us cope?
How does that affect Scotland and the political branch of the indy movement?
Well, on the issue of funds. We always bang on about wealthy Tory donors (including, until the Ukraine invasion, Russian oligarchs). Labour have their union fees plus some wealthy donors who like to hedge their bets. The SNP have – well – their membership. But Wisconsin showed us that perhaps the electorate are sick of having their votes bought – directly or indirectly.
As for the party that were swept to power on a wave of anti-Conservative sentiment – well, as I mentioned above – that credit was spent before the autumn.
Farage and his vile mob – though he's tried to wriggle out of it – are damaged by the Trump/Musk associations he hoped to benefit from.
In the background to all this, Finland came out top again as the country with the most contented global population. Finland – a small independent nation and EU member.
There has never, ever been a better moment for the SNP to boldly put independence front, centre and top of their campaigning message as we begin to focus on the Holyrood elections.
Those who think that keeping schtum, pussyfooting around, equivocating, vacillating, being mealy mouthed (not mentioning it during hustings!) – however you want to put it – are very much missing the vibe.
There are times when you're trying to choose between stealth or hefting the battering ram not realising that the door is open, soup's on and the bed is made …
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
PEOPLE all over the world are mourning the passing of Pope Francis, especially people in Palestine. The Pope phoned Christians in the West Bank every day, while the Western Christian church bought into the Zionist fairytale and ignored the violence. The Western Christian churches have just celebrated Easter, but Israel barred the Christians in Bethlehem from attending church. It's not just Palestinian Muslims who are suffering from the actions of the IDF, there is a Christian presence in Palestine, and those Christians are also being targeted by Israel. In fact, the Christians worshippers in the church in Bethlehem at Christmas 2023 were SHOT by Israeli snipers, while they were in front of their church.
Where is the outcry from the Christian churches in the UK at what is happening to the Christian community in Palestine? Where is the outcry from the European Christian churches? I do not have a television, but I do have a radio, and I heard NOTHING on the hourly news broadcasts about the IDF attacking worshippers trying to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
What does Easter mean? According to the message of Jesus, he brought peace and hope! Where are the peace and hope he brought? What does it mean if the Western Christian churches are silent? By their silence, they are complicit!
Margaret Forbes
Blanefield