12 The National/Thursday, April 15, 2021 The BBC needs to improve debate format to get more Scots tuning in RE leaders’ debates the heavy lifting. BBC gaining or losing really needs to up its game – TV clashes carry more credibility as the otherwise many viewers will feel Holyrood election there’s no point in tuning in for weight in this election Acampaign rumbles on? scrappy debate number three. Tuesday’s STV debate was an Will it matter if viewers stay away? campaign given the infinitely superior effort to the The received wisdom is that random shouting match produced leaders’ debates will have a by the BBC a fortnight earlier – as disproportionately big impact limited canvassing and Aunty’s own presenters appeared during this election because the to concede during a radio interview pandemic has limited canvassing and spring to mind – but the situation campaigning due to yesterday in which all agreed that face-to-face campaigning. seems very different now. STV’s leaders’ cross examination That’s true. And for that we must thank one section worked very well. Which But lockdown means we’ve all man. the Covid pandemic begs the obvious question – why become online animals aware of the Boris Johnson is the missing doesn’t the BBC do that too? important political realities being ingredient in each Scottish leaders’ Pacific Quay must take the highlighted and uncovered everyday debate: the Etonian Elephant in opportunity to revise its own debate beyond the studios, podiums, every room and the reason other format before the final leaders’ microphones and virtual audiences stars like Ewan McGregor have also clash on Tuesday, May 4. Doubtless of TV-land. come out for Yes. many will feel the missing ingredient In real life. Whilst a relatively sober election needed to spice up debate is Alex Take the other big political media campaign is conducted in Scotland, Salmond. But all broadcasters cite event of the week – David Tennant’s an altogether more raucous reality is Ofcom guidelines to justify his cheeky stunt with Saltires as guest played out at Westminster – it’s the exclusion on the basis that other presenter of Have I Got News For backdrop from hell for Douglas Ross new parties like ’s You (HIGNFY). The Bathgate- and the gift that never stops giving All for Unity would then have to be born presenter played a medley of for the Greens, SNP and Alba. given airtime too. STV did give Alba pictures featuring Union-flag-flanked For starters, there’s Johnson’s an innings after the debate with a Cabinet ministers and suggested decision to block Holyrood from slot featuring Kenny MacAskill on the BBC might get into trouble for enacting a landmark children’s rights Scotland Tonight – another format the programme’s own flag deficit. bill – despite a unanimous vote that decision the BBC could easily Announcing, “I think I can fix that,” included the Scottish Conservatives. decide to emulate. a curtain of massive Saltires appeared Ya whit? Of course, the next BBC debate behind Tennant who smilingly No-one, including Douglas Ross, will have the advantage of published planted a small Scottish flag on his seems able to explain why something manifestos, which should mean desk to laughter and applause from so innocuous, so motherhood and less waffle and more concentrated the London-based audience. apple pie, can possibly be heading for questioning – and judging by the It was a great and telling the Supreme Court. ’ manifesto, there broadcasting moment, since Actually, the answer is very will be a wealth of new ideas. But independence-supporting Tennant simple but also very awkward for a if the BBC continues to rely on had to get the BBC production team Scottish Tory leader (occasionally) scattergun questioning by random onside to bring off his masterful trying to look cuddly. In Britain audience members, the chance to wheeze. Clearly HIGNFY is a bit of might is right and Westminster is analyse big ideas like the millionaire a law unto itself – but still. The might personified. Nothing done by tax and massive rail investment will Saltire moment was as eloquent as it a subsidiary parliament can ever, once again be squandered. was unexpected. ever, ever infringe on Westminster The BBC is a publicly funded This week Sam Heughan also sovereignty. End of. Thus, any cosy broadcaster with duties and renewed his support for Scottish Tory talk about a union of equals obligations to the electorate. independence with a single powerful is legal nonsense. Thanks for the Yet right now, the commercial sentence – I want a neighbour, not graphic reminder, Boris. broadcaster STV is doing most of a ruler – even though expressing And thanks for the unexpectedly “controversial” views might weaken trenchant analysis, Oxbridge. his chances of becoming the next Ciaran Martin is now an Oxford James Bond. In the past, fears of Professor but in 2012 was a senior jeopardising a career stopped many civil servant tasked with negotiating Lesley Riddoch Scots from speaking their minds – the Edinburgh Agreement, enabling the pelters directed at Andy Murray the first independence referendum. The National/Thursday, April 15, 2021 13

His new paper – Resist, Reform, STV is winning And in a key phrase, Rycroft says Rerun? – asks which approach Boris the battle of the instinct to preserve the Union is Johnson should take if independence the televised simply “not in the bloodstream of the parties win a majority in May. debates so far UK state”. It seems hell hath no fury Surprisingly perhaps for a man like fair-minded senior civil servants steeped in the ways of Westminster, ignored and overruled. his verdict is unequivocal – there But that’s not all. must be a precise rerun of the Revelations about David Cameron first indyref without any added lobbying for Greensill have dragged confirmatory referendum, different in current Cabinet ministers and question or other London-originated raised questions about the casual change. Otherwise, there will be an cronyism of civil servants double endless impasse where the law is jobbing whilst they held senior with Westminster but the votes are advisory roles within government. with Scotland and the old Union, This on the back of Covid contracts built on consent, quietly dies. Whilst for cronies, the breach of faith with Yessers might quibble about the Northern Ireland that’s prompted nature of our “consent”, a highly the resumption of violence, the blurt respected public servant is blaming about devolution being a disaster – Boris for leaving Scotland without acts of bad faith by Boris Johnson any lawful or democratic route seem never-ending. And the long towards independence and that is list resonates each time Douglas hugely significant. Ross tries to suggest he could run Cambridge academics have also Scotland better than been busy. No-one, (though given his repeated appeal for list not constituency votes, maybe PAPER just published by not even that’s only a rhetorical device.) Professor Michael Kenny, Douglas With Boris effectively abandoning researcher Jack Sheldon the Union down south, it really and Philip Rycroft Ross, doesn’t matter which Unionist (permanentA secretary to the leader wants to claim Ruth department until 2019) says the seems Davidson’s mantle as Defender if the pandemic seeded the idea of a prime Faith in Scotland. minister “who speaks for England able to It’s over. alone” and produced a complete explain Even if the death of the Union is deterioration of relations between easier to see, analyse and discuss the four nations of the UK created why the furth of oor parish. by “deep-rooted complacency” at So dinnae expect this reality to Whitehall. UK is creep into any broadcast debate. Rycroft relates that he was taking But dinnae despair. astonished to find no soul-searching In this vital moment between in Westminster in the wake of the the fight Covid and recovery, the Union- indyref. Instead, Boris Johnson destroying behaviour of Boris has morphed conservatism into to the Johnson and the independence- a “muscular brand of Unionism” Supreme supporting gallusness of David which asserts the value of the Union Tennant may be just as influential in instead of trying to demonstrate it. Court voters’ minds.