BBC ‘continuing’ to show bad judgement says local SNP MP

East Dunbartonshire MP John Nicolson – a former Newsnight journalist – argues the BBC showed poor journalism and editorial judgement in its coverage of newly-elected MP Mhairi Black’s recent maiden speech.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with John Nicolson, Fiona McLeod and Gil PatersonFirst Minister Nicola Sturgeon with John Nicolson, Fiona McLeod and Gil Paterson
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with John Nicolson, Fiona McLeod and Gil Paterson

The SNP man, who is the party’s media spokesman, said the hugely popular speech, extensively reported elsewhere, was featured on the BBC with the presenter talking over it. He said this showed the organisation was “continuing” what he sees as the skewed coverage of Scottish issues he claims it displayed during the referendum campaign.

Talking to the Huffington Post, Mr Nicolson said the BBC wasn’t biased, but that its culture was pro-establishment, the monarchy, the union and the status quo, and argued there should be a separate six o’clock Scottish news. But he defended the concept of public service media, commenting: “Without public service broadcasting we hand over broadcasting to Rupert Murdoch.”