Sturgeon hits back over BBC briefing impartiality concerns
NICOLA Sturgeon has hit back at a Labour peer who raised concerns her regular coronavirus briefings breach impartiality rules.
George Foulkes said Ofcom should insist on BBC Scotland changing the TV coverage to remove the First Minister.
He argued public health officials should present the Covid facts rather than politicians, who could use the Scottish Parliament for political statements.
Lord Foulkes said if the live briefings continued into next year’s Holyrood election campaign it would be an “outrageous breach of the impartiality rules which Ofcom has a responsibility to uphold”.
Asked about his comments, Ms Sturgeon said she has “a really important responsibility as First Minister to communicate public health information to the public”.
She added: “Whether they are broadcast live is not a matter for me, that’s a matter for broadcasters and I’m not going to comment at the moment on that.
“I think the only thing I’d say is George Foulkes has never wanted these briefings to happen, which I think is regrettable because it suggests that political considerations are more important than the vital imperative of communicating directly to the public in a public health emergency.
“But that’s for him to answer for, not for me.”
Opposition politicians have repeatedly raised concerns over Ms Sturgeon’s coronavirus briefings.
In a letter sent to Ofcom on Saturday, Lord Foulkes revealed he had already expressed his concerns in a meeting with new BBC DirectorGeneral Tim Davie last month. He said Mr Davie then arranged for him and Edinburgh MP Ian Murray to meet the new BBC Scotland director Steve Carson.