THE SNP’s depute leader has asked the BBC for "transparency" over the decision to stop airing the First Minister’s coronavirus briefings.
In a letter to Tim Davie, the corporation’s new Director General - seen by The National - Keith Brown asks if any “external factors” forced the broadcaster's hand.
Bosses at Pacific Quay say it's about having a “consistent approach to coverage of the various government briefings across the UK nations,” but they have been under pressure from Labour and the Tories to stop airing the regular information sessions.
Last night, Labour politicians Jackie Baillie and Lord George Foulkes were claiming victory, saying that the BBC had taken the decision after their “representations”.
In his letter - which was also sent to Steve Carson, the director of BBC Scotland - Brown says he understands the “decision was made in Scotland” rather than coming from London.
The MSP tells the corporation men that he has been “inundated with correspondence from constituents who are concerned about the announcement that the BBC will no longer show all of the First Minister’s daily media briefings on live television.”
Brown adds: “People depend on the daily televised briefings for information and guidance and indeed how they stay safe. The First Minister’s 12:15 briefing on live BBC TV is a key part of a great many peoples’ day. It is fundamental to them feeling safe during this global health pandemic. The timing of the decision is particularly perplexing as infection rates in Scotland, the UK and globally are on the rise.
“I’m keen to understand if there have been external factors that have forced your hand to make this decision. Regardless, your announcement has landed very badly with your audience in Scotland. I would urge you to be fully transparent as to how you reached this decision.”
Last week, on Davies’s first day as director-general, he told staff the BBC needed to “get closer to our audience” by becoming an “organisation that is based more across the UK, helping to stimulate the creative economy around the country.”
He added: “We will look to make the BBC less rather than more London-based, taking the learnings from this year – and building a more sustainable organisation in the process”
In his letter, Brown said he was encouraged by the comments, but warned that “this ambition has been set back and that public trust in Scotland in this being delivered is now more challenging.”
The BBC has been approached for comment.
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