Midlothian South Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame is today condemning ITV Borders after learning that some people living in her constituency won’t be able to watch STV’s first televised debate on Scotland’s Independence Referendum tonight.
Ms Grahame believes it is an injustice that people in certain parts of her constituency will have access to the debate but others will have to view it later on STV Player.
She said:-“It is ridiculous that people in Penicuik will be able to watch the debate as it is broadcast but those living in Melrose may have to wait several hours before being able to hear it online. Even then some people may not be able to access it. And of course the irony is that this debate is between Nicola Sturgeon and Michael Moore MP, who of course happens to be a local member and even his constituents won’t be able to hear it.”
Ms Grahame has been campaigning for several years to see changes made in broadcasting in the Borders and on the issue of ITV Borders’ failure to cover Scottish News and current affairs from its English base at Gateshead.
She added: -“People in the Borders have an interest in seeing a referendum that fully meets modern democratic standards of which acceptable coverage throughout Scotland including the Borders by the broadcast media must be a part of. At present some of my constituents are being denied the opportunity to hear this debate on what is fundamentally very important to the future of our country.
“If the Borders doesn’t have the same extent and range of coverage then this only results in a democratic deficit in public service broadcasting.”
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