THE BBC received more than 100 complaints accusing the broadcaster of “bias against Kate Forbes and the SNP” following an episode of Question Time.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister appeared on the programme on June 13 and the show was met with criticism as she was continually interrupted.
The show was broadcast from Edinburgh that evening and a new BBC report states that 145 complaints were received about “bias against Kate Forbes/SNP”.
READ MORE: I interviewed Alba, Greens and the SNP – here's what I learned
A range of topics were discussed on the night, including the Scottish oil and gas sector.
At one point, Forbes was only given 10 seconds to answer a question posed by the audience before host Fiona Bruce interjected.
Social media viewers were left fuming with one describing the “constant interruptions” as “disgraceful” and another saying Bruce was “once again barracking and interrupting the SNP representative more than anyone else”.
It comes as the leader of the UK’s four largest parties are set to go head-to-head tonight in a two-hour Question Time special from York.
Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, John Swinney and Ed Davey will all be in attendance with each leader given 30 minutes to answer questions from the live studio audience.
It will be broadcast by the BBC at 8pm tonight and the parties have agreed that the order of the leaders speaking will be Davey, Swinney (below), Starmer, and then Sunak.
A second Question Time debate will be held on June 28 and will feature Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
The BBC also reported that two other programmes received more than 100 complaints in the period from June 3-16.
READ MORE: John Swinney: Douglas Ross 'doesn't care about climate emergency'
Firstly, 264 complaints were made about the BBC’s election special debate broadcast on June 7 over a “feeling the audience had a left-leaning bias”.
There were also 169 complaints over a Doctor Who episode in which people felt it was “inappropriate for the Doctor to kiss a man”.
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