SNP’S Macneil says ‘I’ll talk to any media’ in defiance of RT boycott call
MP will defy Blackford and continue to appear on Kremlin-backed channel
SNP MP Angus Macneil has said he will continue to appear on the Kremlin-funded RT television channel despite his party’s Westminster leader urging a boycott of the broadcaster.
Mr Macneil signalled his intention to defy SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford when he was asked about the broadcaster during a BBC radio interview. Mr Macneil made his remarks even though Mr Blackford this week said he did not believe politicians should broadcast on RT.
Mr Blackford was responding to the growing anger over ex-mp Alex Salmond’s weekly chatshow on RT.
The former first minister came under renewed pressure to quit the channel after two Russian nationals were named as suspects in the attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok earlier this year.
Mr Blackford said: “RT is a vehicle of the Russian state. What we now know today is it’s clear that the Russian state was demonstrably implicated in the attack on the Skripals in Salisbury. I don’t believe that people should broadcast on RT.”
But when questioned about appearing on RT, Mr Macneil argued that the best way to counter propaganda was to go on and give a “countermessage”.
The Western Isles MP, who has appeared on the channel in the past, added: “Many people have issues with the BBC, but I am talking to it right now.”
Mrmacneilwasaprominent supporter of Mr Salmond’s recent crowdfunding appeal, which raised £100,000 to pay for his legal action against the Scottish Government over its handling of sexual misconduct claims that have been made against him. Mr Salmond denies the allegations.
When asked whether he would now stop appearing on RT, Mr Macneil replied: “No, I will talk to any media. Many people have issues with the BBC but I am talking to the BBC just now and I will talk to any media at all if it is there and possible.”
He later added: “I think it is above my pay grade to go around and to be able to hold inquiries into every media channel.”
Mr Macneil, who is a member of Westminster’s joint committee on national security strategy, did not directly answer when asked whether he believed that Russia was responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-hamilton said: “We now have categorical evidence, including from our Canadian, French and American allies, that Russia was behind the Skripal poisoning. A line in the sand has been drawn and that line is being observed by the likes of Ian Blackford that RT is an agent of propaganda for the Russian State and for British parliamentarians to go on it gives succour to those who would do us harm.”