THE First Minister has pulled out of a conference co-hosted by BBC Scotland over the invitation of far-right political figure Steve Bannon.
Bannon, a prominent member of the alt-right political movement, is to speak at the News Xchange 2018 conference, held in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
He is set to be interviewed by BBC journalist Sarah Smith, in addition to a Q&A session.
The conference, co-hosted by BBC News and BBC Scotland, is to take place between the November 14 and 15.
READ MORE: Why Steve Bannon's racist bluster makes my life so much harder
BBC staff member Chris Gibson is named on the agenda as executive producer of the whole conference.
Nicola Sturgeon was due to speak at an opening reception on November 13.
She tweeted: "I believe passionately in free speech but as @ScotGovFM I have to make balanced judgments – and I will not be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far right, racist views. I regret that the BBC has put me and others in this position."
I believe passionately in free speech but as @ScotGovFM I have to make balanced judgments - and I will not be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far right, racist views. I regret that the BBC has put me and others in this position. https://t.co/5x1rHZkaR9
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 20, 2018
The First Minister also revealed details of an email from the BBC in which they attempt to justify Bannon's invitation.
Sturgeon said: "The email the BBC sent to my office justifying Bannon’s inclusion described him as a ‘powerful and influential figure...promoting an anti-elite movement.’ This kind of language to describe views that many would describe as fascist does seem to me to run the risk of normalisation."
The email the BBC sent to my office justifying Bannon’s inclusion described him as a ‘powerful and influential figure...promoting an anti-elite movement.’ This kind of language to describe views that many would describe as fascist does seem to me to run the risk of normalisation.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 20, 2018
A Scottish Government spokesperson had earlier confirmed the decision to The Ferret: “The First Minister will no longer be participating in this event.
“Her office was only informed at the end of this week by the BBC of their invitation to Steve Bannon, and her attendance is no longer appropriate on that basis.”
Other speakers include director general of the BBC Tony Hall and editor of the Huffington Post Lydia Polgreen.
The First Minister was not the only speaker to pull out of the conference after the discovery of Bannon’s invitation.
Ash Sarkar, senior editor of Novara Media, announced her withdrawal online.
She said: “If @NewsXchange are committed to platforming Steve Bannon, then I withdraw from participating in either of my panels at this conference.
“I won’t be complicit in the normalisation of fascism amongst the chattering classes.”
The event is underwritten by the European Broadcasting Union.
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