A journalist at the Herald newspaper has claimed that the BBC may be biased in favour of the SNP.
Journalist Magnus Gardham, who joined the paper recently after a long spell at the Daily Record, claimed that a guest on Tuesday night’s edition of Newsnight Scotland, that saw Labour MP Ian Davidson allege anti-Unionist bias, was not identified as an SNP supporter.
The guest was a legal expert who suggested that claims by Mr Davidson, who had argued that Scotland had no legal power to hold an independence referendum, were not clear cut.
In his Herald article, entitled ‘Davidson row with BBC over SNP bias escalates’, Mr Gardham writes: “The row over alleged bias on the BBC’s Newsnight Scotland escalated yesterday after it emerged an apparently neutral constitutional lawyer interviewed by the programme was an SNP blogger.
Labour MP Ian Davidson accused the flagship show of bias during an ill-tempered on-air discussion with presenter Isabel Fraser on Tuesday night.
He dismissed her demand for a public apology at the time and yesterday stepped up his attack when it emerged an expert who contradicted him over the legality of Alex Salmond’s referendum plans was a self-proclaimed SNP supporter.”
Mr Gardham’s article follows a row over the conduct of the Labour MP who has been accused of using a bullying manner against Ms Fraser. The on air attack saw the presenter demand an apology from the controversial Labour MP who has faced similar accusations of bullying against women.
SNP MSP Sandra White has since called for Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont to speak out and clarify whether she supports the actions of Mr Davidson.