THE BBC has faced a backlash over Reporting Scotland’s coverage of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's speech to the SNP conference.
That speech covered a whole range of topics – including the disastrous Tory Brexit, having to fund a COP26 Youth Conference because the UK Government won’t cough up enough cash and the Covid vaccination efforts.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson's plan for Scotland-Northern Ireland crossing scrapped
Another central theme was, of course, Scottish independence.
Addressing Westminster, Sturgeon said: “They know – and are utterly terrified by the prospect – that when we look outwards we see all around us the evidence right there in front of our eyes.
“The evidence that independence works. For countries of Scotland’s size, independence works. Our neighbours in north-west Europe are wealthier than the UK. All of them.”
You can click here if you’d like to read the full keynote speech, as you’ll have seen so little of it on BBC Scotland.
Twitter users called that out, with Billy Kay writing: “I watched Reporting Scotland to see how they would cover the SNP conference and @NicolaSturgeon’s important speech. They didn’t! Unbelievable! I can think of no other modern democracy where the leader of the major party and FM of the country would be so ignored in this way.”
I watched Reporting Scotland to see how they would cover the SNP conference and @NicolaSturgeon’s important speech. They didn’t! Unbelievable! I can think of no other modern democracy where the leader of the major party and FM of the country would be so ignored in this way.
— Billy Kay (@billykayscot) September 13, 2021
Many of those responding to that message weren’t happy either:
Many facets. One I thought newsworthy was that ScotGov had supported the youth conference associated with #COP26Glasgow , that U.K. had declined to fund, and this was a positive contribution. Among others.
— Henry Orr (@HJBORR) September 13, 2021
SKY News covered it in full at lunchtime. I thought it was one of the best speeches I've heard from Nicola Sturgeon. Disgraceful that Reporting Scotland did not cover it. Small wonder that BBC Scotland is losing viewers in its early evening Scottish news programme.
— Biffo_th_Bear (@biffo_bear) September 13, 2021
They were busting their guts to see how many times they could say British in the tennis article.
— Thig ar latha. Tak tent, caw canny. (@ron_mould) September 13, 2021
The media is the unions best method of fighting against independence, make no mistake, we're fighting for independence, they're fighting for survival.
— Albany (@Dunfermlin) September 13, 2021
Me too! The one and only, believe me, only, time I’ve watched that ridiculous programme!
— fiona mcgregor (@fionamcgregor11) September 13, 2021
I know came in from work expecting too see it , not a peep 😞
— Janforindyref2 (@janforindy2) September 13, 2021
The BBC – which has been approached for comment – did indeed snub the independence aspects of the speech in the 6.30pm Reporting Scotland, leading on decisions over vaccinating teenagers instead.
It was, however, covered briefly in the lunchtime news edition of the show.
READ MORE: Number 10 rejects indyref2 calls while First Minister speaks
The report opened: "Nicola Sturgeon has re-iterated her calls for another independence referendum.
“Making the closing speech at her party's virtual conference the SNP leader said their victory in the Holyrood elections in May is an unarguable mandate for a second referendum.”
A short analysis followed – but all this was gone by the 6.30pm bulletin which, of course, is the one that people busy at work during the day will catch.
The 10.25pm Reporting Scotland also offered nothing on the speech. So, the total coverage of the theme of independence highlighted so centrally totalled just under 1 minute and 55 seconds across the day.
On the show, even in that report that did cover the event, there was no mention of the First Minister’s key point that other European nations do just fine as independent countries.
STV’s Scotland Tonight did cover Sturgeon’s speech, unlike the late edition of Reporting Scotland.
The show also honed in on the indyref2 theme, digging into the details.
We’re sure you’ve seen those stories in recent years of STV outpacing BBC Scotland viewing figures…
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