SNP & Plaid Cymru omitted from debate.

[CommanderJameson]

So, there's going to be a telly debate between the leaders of the three main parties.

Plaid Cymru and the SNP are not invited.

And they're all upset about it.

I don't think they have a right to be included; by standing on a regional platform, they've excluded themselves from the national debate. I live in England and, whilst considering myself British, am simply not interested in what either party has to say.

Tough tits? Or outrageous exclusionism?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8602630.stm

[glazbagun]

I don't think it's an easy decision (although I'm sure it was for the BBC). My view is that, since any federalisation/nationalisation movement would impact all parts of the UK, they should be given the same platform, broadcast to all parts of the UK. This would make it harder for, say, the English media to typcast Nationalists, and likewise would make it harder for nationalists to hide behind claims of predjudice in the establishment and bring their ideas under wider scrutiny.

Wether "the English" would be interested or not is irrelevant IMHO, as I'm sure there's many areas which would be just as disinterested in whatever David Cameron has to say. He should still have exposure.

I suspect the real reason they're not invited is that the mainstream media have almost always been interested in maintaining the status quo, and never about equal and impartial reporting. Not sure I'd stretch to "outrageous", but then I've been suffering outrage fatigue for a good few years, now.

Edited by glazbagun on Monday 5th April 02:34

[Sheets Tabuer]

We have a BBC wales and a BBC Scotland, rant all you want there. I can't be arsed hearing your whinging and thats what it will be on my TV where you have no relevance.

Start fielding candidates in mid Derbyshire and I will listen to what you have to say.

[Badgerboy]

Plaid Cymru are the Welsh NASDAP. I'm glad they are not getting any airtime.

[onlynik]

I think the should be allowed to participate, after all they have large majorities in Scotland.

There is currently only one Conservative MP in Scotland, cpmpared to 5 SNP members, Scottish people pay the same BBC TV licnece fee, and should be entitled to hear what the main parties have to say. In Scotland that includes the SNP.

FWIW I'm not an SNP voter.

[CommanderJameson]

onlynik said:

I think the should be allowed to participate, after all they have large majorities in Scotland.

There is currently only one Conservative MP in Scotland, cpmpared to 5 SNP members, Scottish people pay the same BBC TV licnece fee, and should be entitled to hear what the main parties have to say. In Scotland that includes the SNP.

FWIW I'm not an SNP voter.

When the SNP can be arsed to field a candidate in my constituency, I'll be sympathetic to their request to be heard in a national debate.

[onlynik]

CommanderJameson said:

onlynik said:

I think the should be allowed to participate, after all they have large majorities in Scotland.

There is currently only one Conservative MP in Scotland, cpmpared to 5 SNP members, Scottish people pay the same BBC TV licnece fee, and should be entitled to hear what the main parties have to say. In Scotland that includes the SNP.

FWIW I'm not an SNP voter.

When the SNP can be arsed to field a candidate in my constituency, I'll be sympathetic to their request to be heard in a national debate.

You see you agree with me, you only want to see a balnced opinion from candidates in your constituency, as do I.

Do you care about what the 3 main parties have to say about Scotland, or would that not be included in a national debate, what happens when they start talking about the NHS, as there is a difference between the NHS Scotland and in England and Wales?

[CommanderJameson]

onlynik said:

CommanderJameson said:

onlynik said:

I think the should be allowed to participate, after all they have large majorities in Scotland.

There is currently only one Conservative MP in Scotland, cpmpared to 5 SNP members, Scottish people pay the same BBC TV licnece fee, and should be entitled to hear what the main parties have to say. In Scotland that includes the SNP.

FWIW I'm not an SNP voter.

When the SNP can be arsed to field a candidate in my constituency, I'll be sympathetic to their request to be heard in a national debate.

You see you agree with me, you only want to see a balnced opinion from candidates in your constituency, as do I.

Do you care about what the 3 main parties have to say about Scotland, or would that not be included in a national debate, what happens when they start talking about the NHS, as there is a difference between the NHS Scotland and in England and Wales?

It's a national debate. The SNP and PC can't meaningfully participate in such because they have, by design, excluded themselves from being in the running to rule the country - which, for the avoidance of doubt, is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

That's not to say, of course, that there shouldn't be regional debates.

But for the national debate? National parties, please.

[5unny]

onlynik said:

I think the should be allowed to participate, after all they have large majorities in Scotland.

There is currently only one Conservative MP in Scotland, cpmpared to 5 SNP members, Scottish people pay the same BBC TV licnece fee, and should be entitled to hear what the main parties have to say. In Scotland that includes the SNP.

FWIW I'm not an SNP voter.

Sorry to be pedantic but no they don't.

In the Scottish Parliament they are ruling as a minority administration. They only got one seat more than Labour in the last elections there.

And in Westminster they have less Scottish seats than both Labour and the Lib Dems.

Their leader, who wants to be included in these debates, is not even standing for a Westminster seat this year.

If we start to include the likes of the SNP at these debates then where does it end? UKIP, BNP, Greens?

I'd go even further and exclude Clegg for the PM debates. Only two men have a realistic chance of becoming PM so lets concentrate on them I say.

[onlynik]

5unny said:

In the Scottish Parliament they are ruling as a minority administration. They only got one seat more than Labour in the last elections there.

In my book one more is still more.

5unny said:

And in Westminster they have less Scottish seats than both Labour and the Lib Dems.

And they still have more seats than the Conservatives.

But I agree, if it is just for the PM then it should be red v blue. Or open it up for UKIP, BNP & Greens.