The National:

DEAR oh dear BBC, what have you done now?

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pulled out of a conference in Edinburgh next month after discovering alt-right political activist and ex-Trump fanboy Steve Bannon was to speak at the event.

The event, titled News Xchange 2018, was to gather some of journalism’s biggest leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities that face the industry. So, it does seem odd that they would invite someone who is infamous for creating fake news, doesn't it?

Steve Bannon is known for many things other than journalism though, most of it relating to the fondness fascists seem to have for him and his style of rhetoric.

But Nicola wasn’t having it for a second: “I will not be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far right, racist views.”

BBC Scotland are co-hosting the conference, which is bad enough, but it gets worse. They emailed the First Minister to explain their decision, saying he was  a “powerful and influential figure...promoting an anti-elite movement.”

If you’re struggling to believe an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, who worked in the White House and was CEO of a global news network, is “anti-elite” then you’re certainly not alone there.

Oh – and the BBC’s very own Sarah Smith was to interview Bannon for a Q&A session after his talk.

Sturgeon's principled decision sparked plenty of praise on social media – which other politicians might want to take a note of. The BBC, however, were less popular.

Isn't it nice to have someone in charge who inspires pride, rather than shame?