FOLK may debate the winner of last night’s BBC Leaders’ debate – spoiler alert, it wasn’t Douglas Ross, Anas Sarwar or Willie Rennie – but the real loser is a no brainer.
The format. It was biased and unacceptable for the BBC to select three questions one after the other that were essentially hostile to independence.
25 years presenting programmes like this for several broadcasters offer certain insights. Of course, producers know the likely tilt of questions before they are asked. It’s part of the vetting process that must happen to guarantee audience balance – something demanded of broadcasters by law, once an election campaign is underway.
Presenter Sarah Smith also let Douglas Ross talk over everyone – his louder male voice and presumptuous “I’ve started so I’ll finish” manner are very hard for anyone to interrupt – especially female leaders – so men like him have to be managed by presenters not allowed to drone on and on.
READ MORE: Anas Sarwar and Douglas Ross clash in battle for second spot in Holyrood
Though that and his resolute refusal to work with a democratically elected SNP government cooked his goose fairly nicely.
But whilst the unfairness clearly maddened watching indy supporters and will doubtless only deepen the mistrust already felt by Yessers towards the Corporation, academic John Curtice highlighted an even bigger problem during a post-debate panel discussion on the BBC News Channel.
Where was the big vision for Scotland, he asked? Where was the talk beyond indyref timescales to the specific advantages and risks that will accompany constitutional change? Forget the eminently forgettable pick n’ mix lists of policies – where is the big single theme as memorable as Boris Johnson’s Get Brexit Done?
Love him or hate him, that focused minds and in the case of Scotland, focused opposition like nothing before.
READ MORE: ‘Decisions must be taken in Scotland’: FM makes case for independence at BBC debate
Of course, the chronic fear of being seen to take independence seriously makes it impossible for Aunty to boldly go for a big ideas format that would really test every political leader – Nicola Sturgeon included. Instead, its debate seemed more like a dressage event, concerned with small correct moves not large bold ideas. STV – with a good track record of innovative debate formats during the indyref – will hold has its own leaders’ debate on April 13.
I hope its producers learn a little from tonight and surprise viewers with a better crafted event.
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