Journalists call on BBC to resign fully from CBI

JOURNALISTS HAVE called on the BBC to resign fully from the CBI after the business body backed a “no” vote in the independence referendum.

The Confederation of British Industry Scotland officially registered with the Electoral Commission as a supporter of the prounion Better Together campaign earlier this month, prompting universities, public bodies and businesses to resign or suspend their memberships.

The BBC last week said that it would suspend its membership during the referendum campaign period.

The National Union of Journalists said that 99% of 50 BBC members who attended a meeting in Glasgow yesterday called on the corporation to resign fully from the CBI.

Paul Holloran, Scottish NUJ Organiser, said: “There was a real concern and anxiety about the damage that CBI membership is causing.

“Journalists are already under enough pressure without being caught up in a shambles that is not of their making.”

A BBC spokesman said: “We understand the NUJ have been in touch with the BBC and we will respond in due course.”

Gordon MacIntyreKemp, chief executive of Business for Scotland, said: “We share the concerns of professional journalists at the BBC whose reputation for neutrality is of the upmost importance.”