SNP attacks BBC news reporting

The SNP has been accused of fresh attempts to “undermine” the BBC after claiming the corporation’s news service lacks “context” and has lost the trust of many Scots.

But the claims have been branded“sinister”and “grievance politics” by opponents.

SNP media spokeswoman Hannah Bardell makes the claims in an Ofcom consultation response on the future of the BBC.

The MP says the Scottish Government does not get the same treatment as the UK government in BBC coverage and the new hour-long news channel must “change peoples’ perception” of the BBC in Scotland. “The referendum was almost four years ago and we have seen little evidence of BBC Scotland regaining the trust that it lost,” Ms Bardell states. “BBC Scotland TV news still lacks context.

“There is a disparity in political reporting. UK and Scottish governments are not scrutinised equally on BBC Scotland’s TV news.”

BBC Scotland’s Glasgow headquarters was the target of protests staged by independence supporters during the last referendum campaign amid claims of bias in its news coverage.

“Nationalists were accused of an attempt to restrict media freedom.

Tory culture spokeswoman Rachael Hamilton branded the claims a “transparent campaign to undermine the BBC”.

Ms Hamilton added: “Most importantly this demonstrates the sinister way in which the SNP is undermining trust in our impartial news media for its own gain.”