YESTERDAY we brought you news that Alex Salmond had written to the BBC's director-general over the Wings Over Scotland YouTube ban.
We also brought you Salmond's letter in full.
Today, we bring you news that the SNP have added their voice to the growing concerns, a day after the BBC backed down in the row.
READ MORE: SNP demand answers on BBC pro-independence censorship
Below is the MP for Livingston Hannah Bardell's letter to the BBC director-general Tony Hall.
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FULL TEXT OF LETTER
Hannah Bardell MP to
Tony Hall 02/08/18
Dear Lord Hall,
I write to you in connection with the issues surrounding the BBC’s role in the recent YouTube censorship of pro independence channels.
As I am sure you aware this has resulted in several days of negative media coverage and reflects very badly on the BBC in Scotland.
The SNP's digital team clip and share BBC news footage on our digital channels. Other political parties in Scotland do this too. As do activists and various commentators, media outlets and observers. It is commonplace and a vital part of Scotland’s modern interactive democracy.
What factors and decisions led to the two specific accounts being deemed worthy of contact with YouTube and their resultant ban but the others are not? I’m also keen to understand who made and signed off this decision. If it is the alleged (and denied) complaint by Labour Councillor Scott Arthur then full transparency on this is needed as matter of public interest.
READ MORE: BBC backs down in Wings YouTube row and blames Labour councillor
With the subsequent (and welcome although overdue) backtrack by BBC I hope that this this unfortunate episode can be cleared up and that the BBC will work to repair the damage to the trust that people in Scotland have in the BBC.
I am keen to understand your views on this, most specifically details on the review that Ian Small, your Head of Public Policy and Corporate Affairs, confirmed would be taking place John Beattie Show (Thursday 2 August, 2018).
A final point I wish to raise is that this whole episode was avoidable, and indeed the SNP tried to assist on this. My colleague, Erik Geddes, the SNP’s Head of Broadcast Media, made contact with senior editorial management on Saturday 28 July, and nobody – in Scotland or in London – claimed to know anything of this. His contact actually enabled an opportunity for the BBC to get quickly out of the situation they were in and yet, inexplicably, by Sunday the BBC press office issued a statement, confirming the actions of YouTube was based on their request and it even went on to attempt to justify this heavy-handed and inconsistent approach.
I look forward to your response.
Kind Regards, Hannah Bardell
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