Pubdate: Fri, 22 Apr 2005
Source: Shetland Today (UK)
Contact:  Gremista, Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland ZE1 0PX
Fax: +44 (0)1595 694637
Website: http://www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/
Copyright: 2005 The Shetland Times Ltd
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance  http://www.lca-uk.org

RADIO SHOW UNFAIR

THE BBC has been blasted by general election candidates in Orkney and 
Shetland who claim that a hustings programme is putting them at a disadvantage.

BBC Radio Scotland's 12 to 2 programme, due to be broadcast on Tuesday, 
will include a one-hour live hustings from Lerwick Town Hall.

But only four of the candidates - from the Labour, SNP, Conservative and 
Liberal Democrat parties - have been invited to sit on the panel.

Candidates from the other four parties contesting the Shetland and Orkney 
seat - the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), the Legalise Cannabis Alliance 
(LCA), the Free Scotland Party and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) - have 
been told they will have to sit in the audience.

In addition they will only be given up to seven tickets to give to their 
supporters and will only be allowed to ask one question. Meanwhile, the 
four candidates invited to sit on the panel will receive 15 tickets to give 
to their supporters and will, at the chairman's discretion, be free to 
speak whenever they like.

SSP candidate John Aberdein and Free Scotland Party candidate Brian Nugent 
have both complained to the BBC, claiming they are being treated unfairly.

The BBC has defended the decision saying that it is following national 
guidelines on election broadcasts which stipulate that candidates are only 
invited to become panellists if they represent political parties which won 
seats at the last Westminster elections.

Mr Aberdein said he was particularly angry about the decision as the SSP 
gained won almost as many votes as the Labour party at the last Scottish 
Parliament elections in 2003.

"By what right and by reference to what principle in its charter or 
elsewhere does the BBC come into a constituency and give superior airtime 
and other privileges to a candidate who was fifth at the last election?" Mr 
Aberdein asked.

Mr Nugent said: "This is unacceptable. If there are eight candidates in 
Shetland then there should be eight candidates on a hustings platform in 
Shetland.

"What right does the BBC have to decide who should have prominence? That is 
up to the voters in Shetland to decide on 5th May.

"I feel that the BBC are overstepping the mark and actually interfering 
with this election. Why bother to come to Shetland and not reflect the 
election that is taking place here and try to impose an election on 
Shetland that is taking elsewhere?"

The decision has also been criticised by LCA candidate Paul Cruickshank, 
UKIP candidate Scott Dyble as well as Liberal Democrat candidate Alistair 
Carmichael who said he would take the matter up with the BBC.

"I thought it was a surprising decision," he said. "The SSP are fielding 
candidates in every Scottish seat. I don't think they are being treated 
fairly."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman