Sturgeon taking advantage of Covid briefings to push case for independence

I am deeply dismayed to read that BBC Scotland has performed a shameful U-turn and announced that, because of protests from SNP supporters and from some older viewers they “will over the coming weeks look to cover the Scottish Government health briefings live on TV ”( The Scotsman ,18 September ).

This is a reversal of their earlier policy to limit the public’s exposure daily during the last six months to unlimited television for the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, without any challenge to her from opposition politicians. As Scotland is only six months away from the holding of the 2021 Holyrood election, BBC Scotland, with its important role as unbiased public broadcast er, would seem to have been highly justified in wanting to be more even-handed to all Scottish political parties.

During the current traumatic pandemic it is certainly right that we have health broadcast sand clear guidance about government policy to combat covid.

However, I share the view of your correspondent Andrew Gray, who believes that “these things are usually best put out by those who are neutral practitioners with no political bias” as was done by civil servant Ian Mcdonald during the dark days of the Falklands War (Letters, 18 September.)

In my view, Nicola Sturgeon is abusing her position in giving her daily Covid briefings. Cleverly and unscrupulously, she is using them as an opportunity to advance the case for Scottish independence which for her“transcends everything”.

While the UK felt it appro - priate to end their daily briefings in June this year, as did the Welsh government in July, Ms Sturgeon intends to continue them indefinitely and mostly insists in chairing herself rather entrusting this to any member of her lacklustre cabinet. Despite her denials, she politicises her briefings by using ever y opportunity to snidely criticise Boris Johnston and the UK Government and to silence any journalist daring to ask an awkward question.

At a time when Scots are experiencing acute health and serious economic prob - lems with the prospect of mass unemployment, it cannot be right for the First Minister to prioritise the holding of a second independence referendum.

In my view, BBC Scotland in the interests of democracy must not allow her unlimited TV exposure to achieve this.

SALLY GORDON-WALKER

Caiystane Drive, Edinburgh