SNP on BBC Newsnight Apology

The SNP's Westminster Culture and Media Spokesman Pete Wishart MP has spoken today (Sunday) following reports that the BBC have apologised after their flagship programme Newsnight wrongly claimed in a pre-election programme that a poll showed the UK's top 50 companies were not in favour of Scottish independence.

Commenting Mr Wishart said:

"This is the second apology in a row from the BBC in recent weeks. Neither of which were offered, neither were requested from the SNP and both came from viewer complaints and angry reaction from the public.

"A few weeks ago substantial viewer pressure led to the first apology after Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark accused Alex Salmond of starting rows with Tony Blair over the memorandum of understanding. In fact, the reality was that Tony Blair that had been off signing secret memorandums in a tent in the desert on matters clearly devolved to Scotland, without any opportunity for this government and indeed this parliament to contribute - a fact which is now accepted by the government in London.

"Now we find out that the same programme misrepresented the views of the business community in a survey for which the BBC has had to apologise again.

"This seriously suggests there is a problem with the London media's attitude to Scottish politics.

"Once is an accident, twice is a problem.

"It is an extraordinary series of events from the BBC in London andit's time for the organisation to not only consider  its attitude not only to phone ins and game shows, but how it treats Scotland and the new administration in Scotland."

ENDS