Salmond: Let us control the BBC

The answer to broadcaster’s ‘bias’ is to put Holyrood in command

ALEX Salmond has revealed plans to seize control of the BBC after launching a vitriolic attack on the British media.

The former First Minister, still fuming at being held to account by the Press during the referendum campaign, yesterday claimed ‘issues’ with the Corporation’s coverage of Scotland could only be ‘properly resolved’ by devolving broadcasting to Holyrood.

His latest demand came on the final day of the SNP’s spring conference in Glasgow, during which the party also unveiled plans to hammer the UK’s richest families by reintroducing a 50p top rate of income tax.

In an attempt to open the gates to Downing Street and blunt Labour’s claims to be Scotland’s ‘progressive’ party, the Nationalists performed a sudden U-turn to back the tax hike, one of Ed Miliband’s key policies. But the move was a slapdown for Mr Salmond, who last week insisted SNP chiefs ‘don’t have any proposals’ for extra taxes.

As SNP leaders played up their chances of holding t he balance of power at Westminster:

Nicola Sturgeon was forced to insist she will lead any post-election negotiations, not Mr Salmond, who continues to hog the limelight.

Deputy SNP leader Stewart Hosie said Nationalist MPs would demand ‘ negotiations’ with Labour ahead of the Queen’s Speech, if Mr Miliband becomes leader of a minority government.

The SNP will demand a seat on every Commons select committee if a large contingent of MPs is sent to Westminster, giving the party a say over English policies on health and education.

A survey revealed that thousands of voters who have deserted Labour for the SNP are ‘unlikely’ to return before May’s election.

In a question-and-answer session with around 2,000 loyal supporters, Mr Salmond was the main draw at yesterday’s conference as he publicised his widely mocked referendum memoirs. He said the Tory election campaign – which has depicted Labour leader Mr Miliband in his pocket – is ‘ fundamentally stupid’ because it makes the SNP relevant.

He claimed to have a ‘few’ regrets about his leadership of the separation campaign, but dodged a demand from the floor for a ‘consultation’ on the currency of an independent Scotland, an issue on which he floundered last year.

And in one dramatic moment, he quickly intervened to insist that the break-up of the UK can only be achieved through a referendum following cheers from the audience for a ‘ unilateral declaration of independence’.

But some of the loudest cheers came when he attacked the media, including the Daily Mail and the BBC. ‘What surprised me was the degree to which the BBC allowed themselves to be influenced by headlines in a biased Press,’ he said.

‘I had no surprise about the written Press but I was surprised and disappointed by the way, in particular the... BBC allowed themselves to be [influenced] by that agenda.’ He added: ‘In reality I don’t think the broadcasting issue in terms of how it treats Scotland will be properly resolved until we have broadcasting under the remit of our democratically elected parliament in Scotland.’

During last year’s referendum, hundreds of independence support- ers laid siege to the BBC’s Scottish headquarters in an extraordinary protest against the broadcaster’s referendum coverage.

Last night, a Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesman said: ‘The BBC is respected across the globe for its reporting, except for Alex Salmond and his conspiracy theorists. It is time for Alex Salmond to stop hunting for excuses for losing the referendum and move on to building a stronger economy and a fairer society.’

A BBC Scotland spokesman said: ‘Our coverage of the referendum was fair and balanced and our coverage of the General Election is fair and balanced.’

Meanwhile, the SNP’s 50p tax plan – a policy also supported by Labour – has horrified business leaders who warned it would devastate the economy, harm investment and cut tax revenues.

Analysis by HM Revenue & Customs found the UK collected £9billion more when the top rate on those earning £150,000 or more was cut from 50p to 45p by George Osborne in 2012. Around 15,000 Scots are top rate taxpayers.

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: ‘Threatening to raise the top rate of income tax is a cynical political gesture which is nothing to do with improving the public finances.’

Labour has repeatedly cited its pledge to raise the top rate of tax as being part of the policy gulf between the two parties, so the SNP will hope that adopting it will make a deal more likely.

But Stewart Hosie, SNP deputy leader, denied he was copying the Labour manifesto.

‘In the next parliament, Nationalist MPs will support the reintroduction of the 50p tax rate for the very wealthiest in society,’ he said.

The Tories have seized upon the prospect of Mr Salmond – who is bidding to return to Westminster as

‘Surprised and disappointed’

MP for Gordon – propping up a weak Mr Miliband at No 10.

Tory MP Iain Stewart said: ‘This is yet another example of Labour and SNP collusion.

‘Nicola Sturgeon has made it absolutely clear that she would prop up a minority Labour government – and dictate every single policy, line by line, vote by vote.’

Scottish Labour finance spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘ This exposes the confusion at the heart of the SNP – who is in charge?’

Elsewhere at the SNP conference, Miss Sturgeon was forced to reassert her authority once again.

Asked by Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan who would lead any post-election negotiations with Labour, she unhesitatingly replied ‘Me’. Miss Sturgeon also said the SNP would want a seat on select committees in the Commons.

Mr Miliband has ruled out a formal coalition with the SNP but a confidence-and- supply deal or a weaker vote-by-vote arrangement remain possible.

Mr Salmond blundered last week by revealing that Nationalist MPs would support Labour even if no deal is reached.

But SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie told the BBC: ‘If they wanted to do this on a vote-by-vote basis… there would have to be a negotiation before that Queen’s Speech.’

According to a British Election Study report yesterday, 86 per cent of former Labour supporters who now intend to back the SNP are ‘certain’ to vote for the Nationalists.