Scots rally against 'biased' BBC

Demonstrators have marched in Glasgow to protest against the BBC's coverage of Scotland's independence referendum.

Some 2000 demonstrators have taken to the streets of Glasgow to protest against the BBC's coverage of Scotland's independence referendum, four days before the knife-edge vote.

Demonstrators claimed that coverage by the British broadcaster has been biased against the separatist "Yes" camp, which wants Scotland to break away from the rest of Britain.

They chanted and waved banners in favour of independence on Sunday as they marched from the city's George Square along the banks of the River Clyde to the headquarters of BBC Scotland.

First Minister Alex Salmond this week accused the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson of heckling him at a media briefing.

Salmond, who is leading the "Yes" campaign, also told this week's Sunday Herald newspaper that the BBC's coverage was biased.

"Don't get me wrong, I like these folk, but they don't realise they're biased. It's the unconscious bias which is the most extraordinary thing of all," he said.

The BBC insists its coverage of the debate has been balanced and impartial and that Robinson's questioning of Salmond was "valid".

Opinion polls have showed the "Yes" camp narrowing the gap in the referendum campaign in recent days and now indicate that the result Thursday could go either way.

In the event of Scotland voting for independence on September 18, the "Yes" camp says BBC programs would continue to be available in Scotland but a new Scottish Broadcasting Corporation would also be developed.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world