The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Salmond says BBC and STV ignoring his party

-

Alex Salmond has claimed his Alba Party is being censored by the BBC and STV.

The former first minister said the broadcaste­rs “are simply failing in their democratic duty” because Alba has been excluded from the televised debates featuring leaders of parties who have MSPs at Holyrood.

Mr Salmond took umbrage with the media organisati­ons after they did not cover an Alba campaign event in Edinburgh on Monday.

Ahead of another Alba campaign event in Stirling, he said: “We are clearly the story of the election and yet the doleful duo of Scottish broadcasti­ng pretends we don’t exist.

“It is long past time for BBC Scotland and STV to mend their ways and to stop distorting the democratic process in Scotland.”

Responding to his claims, an STV spokesman said: “STV’s election coverage has been, and will continue to be, balanced and fully in accordance with strict Ofcom guidelines.

“Alex Salmond has not been invited to participat­e in the STV leaders’ debate.

“We have offered the Alba Party the opportunit­y for Alex Salmond to take part in a one-to-one interview with Colin Mackay as part of our series of Scotland Tonight specials.”

A BBC Scotland spokeswoma­n said: “In our coverage of the election campaign, we are mindful of our regulatory and legal obligation­s and will continue to follow both our own BBC guidelines, and Ofcom’s guidance.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom