BBC bias

Sent to the Herald: 23 July 2007.  Not published.

Sir

There is no real surprise in the story that BBC Newsnight mislead its viewers over the support of the business community for independence.  London-based left- and right-wing commentators may argue over the different bias the Corporation shows to Unionist parties, but its bias toward the Union itself is unquestioned.  BBC journalists with the slightest connection to the SNP are swiftly removed from any political reporting or editorial role, while those who holiday with Labour leaders are given prime-time opportunity to insult SNP ministers.  SNP spokespeople frequently have to rise above patronising interview techniques, while Unionist representatives are given free rein to engender fear of independence.  When it comes to Scotland’s democratic future, the BBC proudly wears its bias on its sleeve.  Former Director General Greg Dyke described this organisation, funded by license-fee payers of every political persuasion and none, as ‘the glue that binds the UK together’.

Yours etc

“Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment”

Sent to the Herald:  16 July 2007.  Not published

Dear Sir,

I read the letter from “Rhona Brankin, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment” appearing to champion “the good of the Scottish fishing industry” and accusing the First Minister of Scotland of “posturing” (16 July) with bemusement. Ms Brankin mentions that she was Fisheries Minister some years ago. Indeed she was and I recall the fishermen of Peterhead burning not only their logbooks in 2001 but also an effigy of a certain Rhona Brankin, in outrage at the sellout by the British government of their industry.

Rhona Brankin is correct to note in her letter that Finland has seven votes in the Council of the European Union, but it is not “just” seven votes that it has. It also has a delegation led by a minister from their own country, rather than the nation next door. It also “just” has permanent representation at the top tables in the EU institutions – from the Commission to the Court of Justice. Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania and landlocked Slovakia also have “just” seven votes. All of them also have a Minister from their own country leading negotiations. The so-called “big four” EU states with their 29 votes each are, if combined, in the minority in EU negotiations. It is surprising that Ms Brankin has not pointed out that Malta has “just” three votes in the Council but then again independent Malta (pop. 400,000) also has Dr Joe Borg serving as EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

Perhaps when Rhona Brankin is able to get a better reception for her effigy on the streets of Peterhead than Salman Rushdie gets for his in Tehran we will listen to her musings on our fishing fleet and constitutional future.

Yours for Scotland,