Galloway’s party to take legal action over television debate snub
George Galloway’s new political party is set to launch legal action against Scotland’s broadcasters due to perceived “exclusion” from the leader debates.
All for Unity, formerly Alliance for Unity, was not invited to take part in the debate hosted by the BBC last week and alongside Alex Salmond’s new Alba Party, is yet to receive an invitation to any future debate.
In a statement, the former Labour MP and host on the radio station Sputnik, an arm of Russia’s state-owned broadcasting network alongside RT (formerly Russia Today), said the party had instructed a legal team to launch “urgent legal action” this week.
Both broadcasters said they would cover the election in line with Ofcom guidance.
The next leaders’ debate is set to be aired by STV on April 13.
Mr Galloway said: "We hope that the opinion polls will be evidence enough for the BBC and STV to admit us into the Leaders' Debates.
"But we reserve our rights to take legal action to compel them to do so, if necessary. We have instructed a legal team, who are currently working on this and ready to launch urgent legal action this week if the BBC and STV continue to refuse to engage with us.
"Our message to the BBC is this: Include us and we promise both TV gold and a big audience."
A recent poll saw All for Unity poll at four per cent and Alba at six per cent. The legal action threat from Mr Galloway follows a similar demand from Mr Salmond last week who said he would not rule out legal action against the broadcasters to force his way onto the leader panel.
The former first minister said he had written to Ofcom demanding intervention and a directive to allow him to appear as part of the debate to enable “fairness and parity of coverage”.
Official guidance from the regulator states: “Due weight must be given to the coverage of parties and independent candidates during the election period. “In determining the appropriate level of coverage to be given to parties and independent candidates, broadcasters must take into account evidence of past electoral support and/or current support. "Broadcasters must also consider giving appropriate coverage to parties and independent candidates with significant views and perspectives.” A spokesperson for the BBC said: “We are looking, as we always do at this stage in an election campaign, at our future plans for coverage in line with our guidelines and Ofcom’s guidance.” Responding, a spokesperson for STV said: “STV will have wide ranging election coverage across news and current affairs, and we’ll share more details with you shortly. "Across the board, our coverage will be comprehensive and in line with Ofcom guidance.”
The move came as Mr Salmond was today due to set out his new party's "route to independence".
The Alba Party leader will make what he called the "declaration for Scotland", on the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath.
Mr Salmond said yesterday that momentum was with the Alba Party, which claimed on Friday to have signed up more members than the Scottish Lib Dems in the seven days from its launch.
"Tomorrow, on the anniversary of the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath I will set out Alba's Declaration for Scotland and the clear route to independence - a strategy for immediate action by the Scots Parliament following the achievement of an independence supermajority,” he said.
"The momentum in this election is with Alba as people warm to our message that only a list vote for Alba can deliver the independence supermajority that will deliver independence for Scotland.
"Last week we unveiled our fantastic team of 32 candidates, surpassed the Scottish Liberal Democrats in membership and, if the polls are correct, look set to see MSPS elected in every region of Scotland.
"As our message cuts through, that only a list vote for Alba will deliver the independence supermajority to drive Scotland towards independence, so we will see more and more people rally to our cause."
The party held its policy conference on Saturday, where candidates decided on proposals for the campaign and Mr Salmond's address could lay out policy positions which branch away from its core mission of Scottish independence.
Mr Salmond repeatedly refused to answer questions on Alba's policies on an independent Scotland's relationship with the European Union, preferring to wait until the policies had been finalised by candidates.
Meanwhile, a poll for the Sunday Times suggested it could take as many as six seats in May's election. Just the second poll to include Alba since its launch, the Panelbase study showed a slim outright majority for the SNP and up to 79 pro-independence MSPS taking seats.