tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post3422622917380673130..comments2023-10-22T14:14:16.419+01:00Comments on J. Arthur MacNumpty: The Telly BoxWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-69480158080739649472009-12-24T22:19:04.465+00:002009-12-24T22:19:04.465+00:00The reason the SNP should be on the debate is more...The reason the SNP should be on the debate is more than simple relevancy to Scottish voters. It's a mistake to view these debates only from a UK frame reference. The Lib-Dems, Labour and the Conservatives are classed as major parties across the UK by OFCOM which gives them automatic rights to Party Election Broadcasts. However in Scotland <a href="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/elections/" rel="nofollow">OFCOM</a> also class the SNP as a major party, Plaid Cymru in Wales and the various parties in Ireland.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-03354.pdf" rel="nofollow">current qualification for a PEB</a> on TV is based not on how a party does in the UK but how a party does in Scotland, Wales, NI or England. So the current rules for PEB's and OFCOM's guidelines recognise the internal national boundaries in the UK and allocate status and airtime accordingly. A three way debate rides roughshod right across all previous practice.<br /><br />The Lib-Dems are on the debate because the broadcasters knew they had to be present as one of the major parties in England. What the broadcasters forgot is that the SNP are classed as a major party in Scotland and PC in Wales. Therefore for any debate broadcast <b>in Scotland</b> the SNP have to be on there as well. The mistake many commentators make is to assume that the SNP will be arguing their case for inclusion on a UK basis when in fact it will be argued on the guidelines and rules which inform current practice for election broadcasting <b>in Scotland</b>. It's nothing about being the Government in Scotland or Salmond being a party leader it's all about how PEB's are currently allocated in Scotland and the OFCOM and BBC guidelines on political impartiality as they apply to Scotland.<br /><br />The debate has been set up to conform with the OFCOM defined major party status of the big three. In other words the broadcasters have taken the impartiality rules which apply to England and tried to apply them across the UK.<br /><br />I think the SNP will have a very good case to block the broadcasts in Scotland unless the Scottish broadcasts of the debate include Alex Salmond.DougtheDughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02952281599715356995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-60748478825523473492009-12-24T21:18:58.388+00:002009-12-24T21:18:58.388+00:00I agree entirely. Sadly this seems typical of the ...I agree entirely. Sadly this seems typical of the UK media who regard Scotland as a wee pretendy region, rather than a significant part of the United Kingdom.<br /><br />Still the debates are going to be bloody tedious aren't they.Clairwilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10503239355248016287noreply@blogger.com