MORE than 16,000 people have signed a petition urging the BBC to reverse its decision to stop broadcasting the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus updates.
Last night it emerged the broadcaster will no longer show all of Nicola Sturgeon’s briefings, and instead provide coverage of conferences based on their “editorial merit”.
The briefing will continue to be streamed by the Scottish Government online.
The BBC stressed it would take a “consistent approach to coverage of the various government briefings across the UK nations”.
READ MORE: BBC to stop broadcasting all of Nicola Sturgeon's coronavirus briefings
It comes after Labour and Tory politicians complained to the broadcaster that they are “indulging” the First Minister by showing her “party political broadcasts”.
Scottish ministers have always denied there being any political elements to the briefings, calling these claims “pathetic”.
Now a change.org petition aims to bring in signatures to show the public demand for the briefings to continue as the UK sees a rise in coronavirus cases.
Laura McNeill launched the petition, writing: “The Scottish Government Covid-19 Briefings have been and still are an essential tool in dealing with this public health crisis, used to convey important information to the people of this country. To deny that is to put the country at a serious risk.
“We have no control over broadcasting rights and no national media and not everyone has access to internet. The BBC are causing an issue where the only one should be that of public health.
READ MORE: BBC Scotland blasted for 'baffling' decision to axe coronavirus briefings
“Let them know you will not accept this. Please sign and share.”
At the time of writing more than 16,000 people have signed the petition calling for the change in just a few hours.
The BBC’s decision has sparked outrage, with politicians, public health experts and members of the public speaking out against it.
A BBC Scotland spokesman said: "We will continue to provide extensive coverage of the government press conferences across our news services, including live streaming online.
"We will of course consider showing press conferences live when any major developments or updates are anticipated."
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