Wednesday 15 May 2013

THE TV DEBATES START


Yes to an Independent Scotland have announced that STV’s current affairs programme, Scotland Tonight, will broadcast its first major TV debate on the Scottish independence referendum with Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore on Thursday May 16.

This is the first in a series of live, head-to-head Scotland Tonight Referendum Special debates examining key issues in the independence debate.

The subject for this debate is the economics of independence and whether Scotland will be better or worse off as an independent country. They will also have the opportunity to cross-examine each other.

Political 'experts' will provide analysis before, after and throughout the debate from a second STV studio, with viewers encouraged to interact by sending their own reactions via social media.

Gordon Macmillan, Head of News at STV, said: "STV is committed to providing a platform for debate around all the key issues ahead of the 2014 referendum and this series of Scotland Tonight specials will give viewers the opportunity to hear the arguments from both sides of the discussion, from Scotland’s biggest political players."

The debate will be streamed live on the STV News website (http://www.stv.tv/scotlandtonight) and will be available for catch-up on the STV Player.

Congratulations to STV for staging this debate. In my opinion the state broadcaster  which we all pay around £2,50 a week to support in that luxurious position, should have been responsible for providing this platform. However, given their record, doubtless it would have been rigged against Nicola.

I went to the BBC site today to read the story about Christian Allard being sworn into parliament. Because Scottish stories on the BBC do not allow comment, I was unable to congratulate him. Strange that other "regions" of the BBC allow comments!


25 comments:

  1. I hope Nicola kicks his Arse and agree the unionist BBC should be doing this.

    Bruce

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    1. It's what we pay them for. All three campaigns tell us that we are making the most important decision for 300 years, it must surely be the job of the state broadcaster to inform the public of the FACTS that will help the public make the right decision.

      Of course we know that the Flat Earth Biased Broadcasting Cabal would make a hopeless mess of it, so it's as well that STV is doing it. It's a pity we can't get a refund from the BBC though; they are hardly doing what we pay them to do.

      Still I suppose they have their work cut out hiding sexual misconduct among their "stars". They probably don't have time to worry about making programmes for Scotland.

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  2. OT, but seeing this blog seems to be home to a large Dundee contingent, are you all involved with Yes Dundee?
    I feel it's about time to get off my arse and get active.
    Despite saying i was prepared to help when i signed the Yes declaration online, i've never been contacted.

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    1. I've noticed quite a crowd from Dundee here.

      I know Willie Sawers is always looking for volunteers to do various jobs from door knocking to delivering envelopes or even just stuffing envelopes.

      There is a YES Dundee Group of Facebook, which is always looking for volunteers for their stalls in the town on Saturdays.

      http://www.facebook.com/YesDundee2014?fref=ts

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  3. Try again as this is worth watching all the way through.

    The same old songs.

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    1. Fascinating CH. The sky should have fallen by now, if the naysayers weren't talking through a hole in their hats... and as I look out the window now, I see the sky is still it the place its been for ever.

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  4. Thanks for letting me know

    Thursday May 16.absolutely no telly for me.............Down pub methinks

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    1. They'll probably have it on in the pub Niko. What you need is to go for a good long run.

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    2. Niko, you're lucky to have such an eminent politician as Moore to speak on behalf of the Labour/Tory hegemony.

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    3. Erudite too...not to mention an intellectual giant.

      (Nope, definitely best not to mention that.)

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  5. I wonder if Nicola Sturgeon will ask him why he changed his mind about the necessity for a Scottish Secretary? Hope his typing and shorthand is up to scratch. I see that Lamont and co took a cancer-sufferer to Holyrood in an attempt to embarrass Salmond and claimed she would have to move to England. How sad is that?

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  6. OMG. How low will that woman sink?

    There are two different health services run by two different governments. There are things you can get in one and not in another. It works both ways.

    People want localism. The Labour party is a HUGE exponent of localism.

    That means that locally you decide what you will spend the money on. Different health boards have different priorities.

    The alternative is everyone gets exactly the same, but it all ahve to be run from one central point. No local input whatsoever.

    If we go down that route, I would suggest Brussels would be a good central point.

    We could take thousands, tens of thousands of people to Westminster and tell them that if only they had had the good fortune to be born on the other side of the Channel they would be entitled to life saving treatment which is not available anywhere in Britain.

    Tony Blair said it was his aim to get the English Health service up to the average standard of European health services.

    Clearly, of course Mrs Lamont prefers the model of health delivery favoured by the English Tory government, when companies like Circle are heading towards making vast profits out of people's illnesses. I bet they will spare NO cost whatsoever to treat people, no matter the cost.

    In the meantime Lamont makes me sick.

    You can make that point without dragging a sick woman there to be paraded. That's nasty politicking. It's the politicking of the desperate.

    As for Moore, it would be nice if something is up to scratch. But to hear that, I suspect we will have to tune in to Caron's Musings tomorrow.

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    1. Maybe, John, Ms Lamont would like to drag along some poor children to her beloved Westminster to highlight to her friend Mr Cameron the damage that unionist policies are doing to the health of children...

      http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2013/may/bma-westminster-austerity-agenda-failing-children

      Probably not though.

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  7. Tris

    We have all had a moan and expressed concern about BBC Scotland but I must admit I am at a loss as to what we could do now to be honest. The standard of their political coverage is shocking and one sided, not to mention their other programmes like sportscene which only covers the SPL etc. I suppose you would need mass no payment of the tv tax to make anyone sit up and take notice but most people wouldn't take part as apathy has set in regarding most things now. What a sad country we live in when the propoganda arm of Westminster can lie, decive, mis-represent and cheat and there is no accountability to the Scottish people or government. I agree with a previous Craig Murray blog, it's time for the SNP to involve europe in this whole issue now.

    Just watched FMQs as part of my job, doing youth politics means I get to watch on work time but Lamont is shocking and bringing along a cancer sufferer is unforgivable. Lamont is shocking and must be the worst Scottish leader Liebour have ever hard, how low will that woman go.

    Bruce

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  8. Hi Bruce:

    Non-payment would only work if it was a mass non payment.

    It is against the law not to pay and the fine is very heavy. I imagine that, as ever when something involves the people who are not out of the top drawer, the London government would insist on sever penalties (broadcasting still being run from London and Mick Moore).

    (I've always wondered that people don't revolt against a state where penalties for the rich and famous who steal shedloads of money are so light... and penalties against ordinary people who steal far less are so draconian.)

    As I say, the only ways to get something done would be (a)to not pay en masse: they can't fine a million households. They'd never get through them, or (b) to do as Craig suggested and involve international courts. Certainly the UK won't listen to us.

    I know Craig wrote to Alex Salmond. I've never heard any more from him about the outcome.

    That sounds an interesting job btw. You should maybe write a guest post on it... Feel free!

    As for Lamont. She is despicable. I always thought she was third rate, but she plumbed new depths today.

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  9. Monty has a good article on his blog about the BBC caught out cheating... worth a read.

    As he says, it's a brilliant place for old politicians to go and get a massive salary doing something or nothing.. he cites Purnell and Paton.

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  10. Would of been here earlier but was waiting in very long queue waiting for prescription headache tablets on prescription after listening to Lamont.

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    1. I'm sure that many in the queue were looking for something stronger CH

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    2. Aye a petition to sign asking for J Lamont to resign for being a public disgrace to all Scots.

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    3. I was thinking of cyanide
      But the petition too probably :)

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  11. Tris

    I must admit I do have a very interesting job as a Community Learning and Development Worker with a remit for involving young people in decision making. The job is very enjoyable most of the time and I feel honoured to have the chance to support a small group of motivated young people. The difficulty is that it very difficult to get young people involved due to the subject and the nature of the work young people will undertake. I have worked overseas with survivors of sexual abuse, I have worked as a streetworker with homeless people, I have been a youth worked in an arts venue and in the Hilltown and I will be honest this is the most difficult job I have done, again due to how difficult it is to get young people involved.

    I will try and write a subjective blog about it sometime as it is something that is a very important, it's vital that young people are represented and their voice heard but it is also something those intrested in it and able to work through the slow pace of it can get a lot out of.

    Bruce

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  12. It absolutely is.

    I worked for a while in the Hilltown and in Kirkton, Whitfield and Ardler...usually with young people and latterly with 15/16 year olds. It's the most rewarding thing you can do to know that they have changed the way their lives were going, with just a wee bit of encouragement and guidance and that you've been part of it.

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  13. Hey Tris,

    You will probably know my sister Phylis, she doesn't use her maiden name though.

    I'm a Dundee man as well, but living in England, soon to move to Thailand.

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  14. I do indeed Partick, and admire her very much. I learned a lot from her.

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