ELECTION LEADERS’ DEBATES - SNP POISED FOR MEETING WITH BBC CHIEFS

ELECTION LEADERS’ DEBATES - SNP POISED FOR MEETING WITH BBC CHIEFS

PARTY READY FOR HEARING WITH CORPORATION'S RULING TRUST

The SNP is preparing to meet members of the BBC Trust, the Corporation's
governing body, after the Trust indicated it is considering granting an
unprecedented oral hearing to consider the Party's appeal against the
BBC's handling of the election leaders' debate issue, including its
rejection of the offer of a fourth debate focused on issues more relevant
to the devolved nations.

The BBC's election leaders' debate is scheduled to take place on April
29th, in Birmingham, hosted by David Dimbleby.

However, in a letter to SNP leader Alex Salmond and Plaid Cymru leader
Ieuan Wyn Jones, the BBC Trust, the Corporation's governing body, which is
independent from the Corporation's management, has now asked both parties
to prepare for a possible oral hearing which could be held at any time
from April 22-27th.

The BBC Trust is currently corresponding with the Corporation's Executive,
which is chaired by Director-General Mark Thompson, over the basis of the
SNP and Plaid Cymru's appeal.

An ad hoc committee of the Trust involving five Trustees - the Trustee for
Scotland, the Trustee for Wales and three members of its editorial
standards committee - will consider the appeal and whether there should be
an oral hearing.

The Trust has prepared a briefing note for committee members in advance of
the BBC Executive submitting its formal response to the SNP appeal. It is
understood senior BBC management returned from Manchester on Friday to
work on the Executive's response over the weekend.


SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell said:

"We are ready to meet the BBC Trust at any time to discuss our appeal. The
exclusion of the SNP, the party of Government in Scotland, from the
election leaders' debates is fundamentally undemocratic. We also believe
it is a clear breach of the BBC's obligation of impartiality.

"We also believe that the BBC Executive has failed in its duties by
excluding the SNP and Plaid Cymru from the negotiations which were held
with the other parties over what was clearly a prolonged period.

"Those discussions effectively allowed the UK parties to dictate the
format of the leaders' debates to the broadcasters. As a result of the
debate format agreed by the BBC Executive, there is a clear danger of
misinforming and misleading voters in Scotland.

"We know we have an extremely strong case, and now look forward to making
that case directly to the BBC Trust."