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By Liz S

Sorry , he accused you of bringing the BBC into disrepute ?

I assume his anger was because they, the BBC, want to be the only ones who do that themselves , via the low quality and clearly partisan output that they broadcast as news in Scotland, where they have an obvious mission to damage the SNP as a party while simultanously also protecting other parties in Scotland…..

(Has Anas Sarwar been asked about Brian Leishman’s suspension from the Labour party yet by the BBC Scotland news teams) ?

Currently I do not think the BBC, as a news broadcaster, could sink any lower in how people view them and so it seems obvious that the BBC Verify team within their organisation obviously gives a very very wide berth to BBC Scotland’s various news formats within Scotland…..as surely they would find it very difficult to verify much of the output via the BBC Scotland news that is broadcast in ‘the news where we (supposdley) are’.

I read online that:

“BBC Scotland were found to have been in breach of broadcasting rules, including those related to due impartiality, but Ofcom had not imposed any financial penalties, Ofcom has investigated and upheld complaints against BBC Scotland for failing to maintain due impartiality in news reporting, particularly in relation to coverage of the Scottish Government and former First Minister Alex Salmond. While Ofcom can impose fines for breaches of its rules, it has not done so in these cases related to BBC Scotland“

“Breaches of due impartiality– Ofcom has identified instances where BBC Scotland’s news coverage did not adequately represent different perspectives, particularly in discussions about the Scottish Government and Alex Salmond’s case”

“No Fines – While Ofcom has found breaches, it has not imposed any financial penalties or sanctions on BBC Scotland”.

“Focus on corrective action – In cases where breaches were found, the BBC has been expected to acknowledge the errors, make corrections, and reflect on the findings to improve future reporting”. 

“Example – One specific example is a report by BBC Scotland’s Scotland editor, Sarah Smith, where she incorrectly stated that Alex Salmond believed Nicola Sturgeon should resign. The BBC accepted the error and took steps to correct it”. 

“Example – During an interview on BBC’s Sunday Politics, Andrew Neil asked Alex Salmond why one in five Scottish pupils were “functionally illiterate” when leaving primary school. While the BBC claimed the phrase wasn’t used in the report they referenced and that the source was a Scottish Conservative spokeswoman, Ofcom ruled it breached the rule against materially misleading the audience”. 

“Example – ‘The broadcasting of Ruth Davidson’s accusations and lack of alternative perspectives, Ofcom found a breach of due impartiality rules in a report where Ruth Davidson expressed strong criticism of the Scottish Government. According to Ofcom, the report lacked a clear link to an afternoon program which continued to cover the story, and alternative perspectives were not given due weight”.

“Example – Scottish independence Referendum coverage, Ofcom has received complaints about the BBC’s coverage of the Scottish Independence Referendum, with some alleging unfair exclusion of certain parties and undue prominence given to specific viewpoints. Ofcom has stated that broadcasters should ensure a range of perspectives are represented during such events, and the BBC has been found to have breached these rules in some instances” 

The above examples are not an exhaustive list as examples….and it seems to be that the BBC, after these complaints were made to Ofcom , and then were upheld , still they, the BBC Scotland news teams continue to break the rules on due impartiality, so a hefty fine is surely now well overdue from Ofcom ?

“BBC’s handling of complaints – Ofcom also expressed concern about the BBC’s handling of complaints related to these breaches”. 

So it seems a bit rich and a tad ironic that this individual, Ian Small, should have accused you of bringing the BBC into disrepute , especially when they themselves seem to be intent on doing that very thing themselves as an organisation , I base my accusation in relation to that upon the above examples via Ofcom….and also the many other examples I have not noted in my comment, but that are also ones that exist. (and some are from the same source too….Sarah Smith )

Remember during the pandemic Sarah Smith stating that Nicola Sturgeon “had enjoyed the opportunity to set her own lockdown rules” , she then had to apologise as this misinformation was not based on fact but based purely on the opinion of her as a BBC employee.

That is she, Sarah Smith, as a BBC employee , is employed to supposdley only communicate news (as in facts and truth….obviously an alien concept it seems to BBC Scotland news teams) and so surely she was not employed to broadcast her own personal, biased and partisan opinions (who am I kidding)……so then she was spirited away to America. , like James Cook (who was also sent to America by the BBC but alas he’s back) , as in the same James Cook , who has also been subject to complaints made by the public to the BBC on his lack of due impartiality.

Then of course there is the question of a lack of due impartiality and fairness in the political debate programmes via the BBC, as in Debate Night and Question Time, where often there is pro UK loaded audience and also a lack of balance on their panels is often highlighted (together with a seemingly hostile host on both programmes).

On 20 June 2025 there was this noted in BBC Corrections and Clarifications section :

“Debate Night

BBC Scotland and BBC One Scotland, 4 June 2025

In featuring Lord Haughey, as part of the panel, we could have been clearer on his designation as a Labour peer. While the programme did cite his status as a Labour donor and our social media team referenced prominently his party political affiliation in the House of Lords once the programme was live, we should have applied that approach consistently to both the pre-broadcast publicity on social media and referenced that point clearly on air.

We are happy to clarify that point”

(However instead of ‘clarifying that point’ how about really addressing it and then permanently fixing it for future episodes of both Debate night and QT- when in Scotland……to then stop your corporation from descending even further into disrepute….though has BBC Scotland’s news ever been respected , trusted and worthy of having a good reputation for it’s news output) ?

The above Debate night episode was broadcast on the night before a by-election in Scotland , which happened because of the tragic death of a SNP MSP, and where Labour’s Davy Russell won the seat in Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse, with 8,559 votes, a majority of 602 , aided by the BBC of course….as he was also , as a Labour candidate , allowed to be the ‘Invisible man’ as he was not sought out for any intensive interrogation by the BBC Scotland news teams prior to that By-election, and so there was no special pre election BBC debate programme(s) with all of the candidates for that seat…..Labour did their best to keep him away from any media scrutiny and the BBC were only too happy to oblige…or so it seemed.

So by my reckoning it is the BBC themselves who are guilty of bringing themselves into disrepute and it is brass neck territory for anyone within their organisation to accuse others of bringing the BBC into disrepute……as that is a job they are expert at….just ask Ofcom who , as a media regulator, finds many breaches with the BBC in Scotland , in respect to a lack of due impartiality , yet as a media regulator they seem most reluctant to actually fine the BBC for those breaches ……

So surely ‘Now is the time’ to start , as the BBC in Scotland are still at it………and they will never stop until they see the SNP as being no longer being a real threat to their UK State…..as that is what is behind their constant “lack of due impartiality”……….as a broadcasting organisation both within and outwith Scotland. (it is also something other TV news channels are guilty of as well in respect to the SNP and Scottish politics).

Simples…..but also, not so simple….for us in Scotland that is……..

Liz S