Latest news with #GlasgowSpecial
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
'For urgent change that's needed, Green voices must be heard'
There are also home truths for the SNP who put a lot into this seat. They tried to be the anti-Reform vote but that didn't work. The immediate reaction of some in the party that they instead need to "hit the independence button" hits home just how little they have to fall back on from their record in government. Greens led a solid grassroots campaign which helped to build profile and support ahead of the Holyrood elections next year, where the proportional voting system means Green votes count more. There are some clear lessons emerging for how Greens need to approach that election. The SNP can't succeed as the anti-Reform vote because they are the political establishment in Scotland that those turning to Reform are hacked off with. It's their cuts to council budgets and their failure to replace the unfair council tax that is responsible for the decline people see in their neighbourhoods. It's their failure to build enough homes or to bring down outrageous rents that are driving the housing crisis. It's their U-turn on climate targets and lack of a proper green industrial strategy that is putting jobs and communities at risk. Greens can put forward a bold manifesto that responds to these things and more. That speaks to real issues facing people, not the bogeymen put forward by Reform. Urgency is vital. Where the SNP is cautious in the extreme, Greens must present a plan to deliver tangible change, quickly. Parties are often pressed on having a costed manifesto. That's important, but I think it's equally so to have a timed plan, not with vague and distant targets, but for real improvement, now. Greens have policies that resonate and are needed, but the biggest barrier we still face is being heard. The BBC Scotland Debate Night programme this week is a clear example of that. The show was a 'Glasgow Special' but it didn't include the Greens, despite being clearly the third political force in the city. Instead, alongside the SNP council leader Susan Aitken, viewers heard from the Tories, who have just one councillor left and are facing being wiped out in Holyrood next year, and shockingly from not one but two Labour representatives (though the show's producers neglected to make the political affiliation of the unelected Baron Haughey of Hutchesontown clear). It's perhaps not a surprise that the BBC won't platform Green voices which challenge the status quo, but it is a real shame. Green representatives are shaping the future of Glasgow, whether that's by working to end rip-off rents, by making our streets and public spaces safer, or by delivering new powers, like the Visitor Levy, which will raise tens of millions more for local services. Greens can deliver the radical and urgent change people want, but to do that Green voices must be heard.
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
BBC bias claims reignite as majority of panellists back Labour
The BBC hosted a 'Glasgow Special' episode of the show on Wednesday night, featuring the SNP's Glasgow Council leader Susan Aitken, Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells, artist David Eustace as well as both Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney and Labour peer Willie Haughey. We previously reported on SNP and Scottish Greens anger over the inclusion of two Scottish Labour politicians, especially given it came ahead of yesterday's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election – which Labour's Davy Russell ended up winning in a shock result, beating the SNP by just over 600 votes. READ MORE: Good News Scotland: Plenty of Scottish heroics in May, both home and abroad The Scottish Greens have also since sent a formal complaint to the BBC saying they should have been represented considering their high support in Glasgow. But now, The National can reveal that Eustace also appears to be a Scottish Labour supporter, meaning three of the five panellists on the BBC show backed the party. The photographer and former chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University attended Scottish Labour's Winter Gala last year, according to his LinkedIn. In response to Anas Sarwar's post thanking those who attended, Eustace responded 'great night in many ways' – both by resharing the Scottish Labour leader's post and in a separate comment in response. (Image: LinkedIn) He has also interacted with Sarwar several further times in the past few months on the social media platform, including praising the Scottish Labour leader's Sunday Times article calling for Donald Trump's Scottish ties to be used to Scotland's advantage. (Image: LinkedIn) In a post announcing Ian Murray as Scottish Secretary after last year's General Election, Eustace also signalled his support, commenting: 'I doubt few work harder. Much respect and time for this man.' The connection has sparked a further BBC impartiality row, with an SNP source telling The National that the panel makeup was 'ludicrous' and calling for action to be taken. "It's ludicrous that the BBC would include three Labour supporting panellists,' they said. 'The BBC must make clear what steps it will take to rectify this." The Greens have also again hit out at the BBC, with Glasgow councillor Anthony Carroll telling The National that the BBC must review its procedures. 'To have two Labour representatives on a supposedly politically representative panel is one thing, but to also have another who is certainly at least supportive of Anas Sarwar and his vision narrows the spectrum of voices speaking about Glasgow, to the city's detriment," he said. "With parties like Reform being the darling of many partisan media outlets, its incumbent our public broadcaster to give fair hearings of parties who do well in elections, yet don't have half of Fleet Street on speed-dial. "The BBC must review their balancing procedures for shows like Debate Night to make sure the people whose futures they seek to debate see the people they vote for represented on those panels.' He added: "It's sad that audiences – on the eve of the Hamilton by-election – couldn't hear Green ideas on tackling the housing emergency through rent controls, banning winter evictions, or ramping up more social and affordable homes being built. Or our plans to get investment back for our communities who've been left behind by too many soft touch approaches by successive Governments on the rich, leading to growing wealth inequality in Scotland." The BBC and Eustace have been approached for comment.
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
BBC Debate Night branded 'farce' as formal complaint made over 'bias'
It comes after there were no representatives from the Scottish Greens on a 'Glasgow Special' episode of Debate Night on Wednesday evening. Instead, the show – on the eve of the crucial Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election – featured the SNP's Glasgow Council leader Susan Aitken, Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells, artist David Eustace as well as both Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney and Labour peer Willie Haughey. This led to some anger, including an SNP source telling The National that Debate Night appears to have 'thrown the BBC's proposed guidance on balance out of the window' by including two Labour representatives. But now, the Glasgow Greens have also branded the panel makeup as a 'farce', highlighting that their party are 'by some distance' the third largest in Glasgow in terms of the number of councillors and vote share in last year's General Election. READ MORE: Increasing UK defence spending is just about the worst way to support jobs The Scottish Greens have 11 councillors on Glasgow City Council compared with just one Tory, for example. Now, they have made a formal complaint to the BBC. Glasgow Greens councillor Anthony Carroll (below) said that it was clear the BBC are balancing only between the 'parties of the past'. (Image: Supplied) 'For the Conservatives to have a representative while they can barely hold on to any deposits in Glasgow any more, while the Greens - who surged to third place across the city - are ignored once again by the BBC, shows just how out of touch they are with the electorate,' he said. Carroll, who is also the party's democracy spokesperson, added: 'I urge the BBC to address this in any future political broadcasts and avoid another farce. To not is a disservice not just to the BBC, but to the growing number of voters who are clearly not being represented in their political debate broadcasting shows.' Councillor Jon Molyneux, who is Glasgow' Green group co-leader, added: 'Green representatives are significantly shaping the future of Glasgow, whether that's by working to end rip off rents, by making our streets and public spaces safer, or by delivering new powers, like the Visitor Levy, which can raise tens of millions more for local services.' He added: 'It's a shame - but perhaps not a surprise - that the BBC won't platform Green voices which challenge the status quo, but is happy to conceal the well-documented political affiliation of an unelected Labour Lord.'
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Anger as TWO Labour politicians get key BBC slot on by-election eve
The BBC is hosting a 'Glasgow Special' episode of the show tonight, featuring the SNP's Glasgow Council leader Susan Aitken, Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells, artist David Eustace as well as both Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney and Labour peer Willie Haughey. It comes as voters are set to go to the polls tomorrow (Thursday) for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on June 5, which is widely considered to be a three-horse race between the SNP, Labour and Reform UK. READ MORE: 'New low': SNP slam Labour over MP lobbying trip to Israel amid Gaza genocide An SNP source told The National that Debate Night appears to have 'thrown the BBC's proposed guidance on balance out of the window' by including two Labour representatives. "Debate Night appears to have thrown the BBC's proposed guidance on balance out of the window - the night before a crucial by-election,' the source said. 'Does Sir Keir Starmer really need two apologists to back up his woeful record?" Announcing the guests on social media site X, the BBC described Haughey as an 'entrepreneur'. (Image: Canva) But the millionaire tycoon (above with Sweeney) was actually made a Labour member of the House of Lords in 2013. He donated over £1 million to the party between 2003 and 2010. More recently, he gave £3900 to Scottish Labour MP Michael Shanks ahead of the General Election last year. Scottish Greens councillor Jon Molyneux also called out the BBC. 'Labour MSP and Peer for a "Glasgow Special" but no Glasgow Greens representative despite having 4 times as many elected representatives in the city than the Tories,' he wrote on Twitter/X. 'Farce.' The SNP also took issue with last week's BBC Debate Night by-election special for not including the actual candidates. It comes as Labour's candidate Davy Russell has repeatedly dodged not only the STV debate earlier this week but also local hustings and radio interviews during the campaign. The BBC have been approached for comment.
