THE director of BBC Scotland has spoken publicly for the first time since the corporation was engulfed in another controversy following the airing of its Motherwell edition of Question Time.
Donalda MacKinnon defended the programme against the perceived bias among many Scots after a Ukip candidate was allowed on to the show for the fourth time and was again given a platform to go on an anti-SNP rant. Mitchell has been selected to give his opinion in three of his four appearances.
Last week, we also sensationally revealed that the SNP’s Fiona Hyslop had her full response to Mitchell cut short and secretly edited out after he shouted something about former First Minister Alex Salmond case that could not be broadcast.
READ MORE: Revealed: Question Time secretly edited SNP answer to Unionist plant
There have also been questions raised about the composition of the audience and why it did not appear to accurately reflect the political persuasions of Motherwell.
In an interview to The Guardian, MacKinnon said she wished to convince critics there was no bias or agenda at the BBC.
“It’s an absolute priority for us that audiences have confidence that we’re doing all we can to ensure fairness and balance in our news and current affairs output,” she said.
“I don’t want to talk about individuals but as far as Question Time is concerned there are robust procedures around audience selection and the production team does not invite people to participate.”
MacKinnon added that she had full confidence in Mentorn, the production company which produces the show, who have also been chosen to produce Debate Night.
Addressing the claims of bias in their coverage of Scottish politics, which dates back to the Scottish independence referendum of 2014, MacKinnon said: “I don’t imagine that we’re ever going to eliminate that, but the creation of an integrated nine o’clock news bulletin in the centre of the schedule, I hope, will go some way to addressing it.”
In a separate interview with the Financial Times, MacKinnon revealed the new Scottish version of Question Time could not afford to tour the country, and will be mostly based in Edinburgh. Read our full story on that here.
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