THE BBC will broadcast a second Question Time leaders’ special, it has been announced, because the first one won’t have Nigel Farage in it.
The BBC spelled out its plans for a second Question Time special on Tuesday, two days ahead of its first planned broadcast.
Labour leader Keir Starmer, SNP leader John Swinney, Tory leader Rishi Sunak, and LibDem leader Ed Davey are all due to join Fiona Bruce for the first Question Time broadcast on Thursday, June 20.
READ MORE: Nigel Farage grilled on Reform's links to fascists in car crash TV interview
The BBC has now announced that there will also be a second Question Time leaders’ special broadcast on June 28, this time with Farage included.
The Green Party have also been invited to attend, the BBC said.
Reform UK leader Farage is also due to speak to Nick Robinson for a special leader’s Panorama interview on Friday, June 21, it has now been confirmed.
Farage had been due to be interviewed by Robinson last week but pulled out on the day.
A statement from the public broadcaster said: “The BBC has been keeping its programme schedules under review during the General Election campaign.
“This added [Question Time] programme, and the changed peak-time scheduling slot for the Panorama interview, reflects the fact that it is clear from across a broad range of opinion polls that the support for Reform UK has been growing.
“As a public service broadcaster the BBC recognises that the policies and proposals of the party deserve scrutiny at a time convenient for mass audiences.
“In the interests of fairness we have offered the same scheduling opportunity to the Green Party.”
The news comes after Farage faced questioning on Reform candidates’ links to fascists in a grilling on Good Morning Britain.
He was challenged on reports that 41 of his party’s candidates were “friends” on Facebook with British neo-fascist leader Gary Raikes, the founder of the New British Union.
Farage claimed the links arose because “most of our candidates are not political sophisticates”.
Elsewhere, research published on Monday found that over nine years Question Time had an over-reliance on platforming right-wing voices from the media.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel