THE SNP yesterday defended their decision to send broadcasters interview tips on holding Tories to account on Scottish independence.
The party came under fire after it emerged that they’d written to senior broadcasters on how to handle on-air exchanges with Conservative politicians.
John Toner, Scottish officer for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), hit out at the move, telling The Times newspaper: “Professional journalists do not need guidance from any political party on how to do their jobs.”
He went on: “How interviews are handled is a matter for the journalist and his/her editor. The claims of all political parties should be rigorously scrutinised, and it is not acceptable for one party to try to influence the degree to which other parties and scrutinised.”
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One newspaper journalist called for the message to be retracted “with an apology” and another said there would be “uproar” if Conservative spin doctors did the same in England. A third called it “an absolute disgrace”.
But an SNP spokesperson said the party had been acting to ensure the result of the recent election, and the implications of that win for the constitution, were reflected in reporting. The move follows repeated claims that the SNP is treated unfairly by major broadcasters, including the BBC.
READ MORE: SNP email shows media how to hold Tories to account over independence
The message, sent to a number of professional journalists, cited an interview by STV’s Bernard Ponsonby with Scottish Conservative economy spokesman Dean Lockhart MSP as an example.
During that exchange, the veteran interviewer challenged Lockhart’s claim that indyref2 should not be held because the SNP won less than 50% of the vote.
The email says: “Bernard Ponsonby highlights how easily Tories, who try and assert that
the SNP have no mandate for a second referendum, can be tied in knots.
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“When interviewing them on the matter, please do not accept their assertions and move on.
“Boris Johnson and the Tories undemocratic and untenable position should be rigorously scrutinised.”
In a statement, the party said: “It was disappointing so many Tories appeared unable to accept the [election] result or understand what it meant.
“We simply highlighted to broadcasters that the SNP won the election overwhelmingly.”
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