Security measures at BBC HQ ahead of protest

BBC staff have been warned that new security measures are being put in place at its Glasgow headquarters this weekend after it emerged that a protest against its referendum coverage is expected to take place tomorrow.

In an internal message from Alan Dickson, BBC Scotland’s chief operating officer, workers were warned that front doors may be locked shut and that they were likely to be kept closed for the duration of the demonstration.

The BBC has repeatedly been accused by pro-independence campaigners of being biased in favour of Better Together, with the row reaching new levels this week after First Minister Alex Salmond called for an investigation into treasury leaks to the corporation, which reported that Royal Bank of Scotland intended to move its registered headquarters from Edinburgh to London in the event of a Yes vote before a formal announcement.

The First Minister then clashed with BBC political editor Nick Robinson at a press conference.

The BBC has always maintained that it has provided “fair and impartial” coverage of the referendum.

In the internal memo, Mr Dickson wrote: “We have been advised that a protest relating to the BBC’s coverage of the Scottish Independence Referendum is expected at Pacific Quay [PQ] on Sunday afternoon.

“If you are planning to be in PQ on Sunday, please be prepared for additional security – for example, it’s possible that the front doors may be closed in the morning.

“If you’re working that day or have contributors coming into our buildings, you should also follow any specific measures advised by security at the time.

“We’ll do everything we can to ensure that operations in and around PQ run as normal,” the internal memo went on to say.