The QT Remark

My thanks to Moridura for the video.  Still don't know how he manages to clip these but I have tried to find software for a Mac which would do it with with ease.

However I digress.  It was Clarinda who drew my attention to this 'joke' on Thursday's Question Time.  

It's my intention to ignore the smug individual who made the remark. People like him were ten a penny when I lived in England and I eventually discovered the best way to prick their bubble was to disregard them. 

Some are appalled by the audience's response, but again I wasn't surprised.  The Scots and Irish have always been the butt of English humour.  David Dimbleby's description of the mark as 'chauvinistic' was inappropriate, although he had the measure of the audience member I have to admit.

I'm not overlooking the fact that the 'joke', made during serious discussion of nuclear waste, was distasteful, but what does surprise me (and really shouldn't) is that the BBC decided to actually broadcast it.

QT is pre-recorded and edited - or used to be - with a very sharp knife.  Yet someone within the department decided this purile remark was worthy of inclusion in the programme.

As much as the incident tells us about the contributor and the English audience, it says even more about the BBC and it's attitude to Scotland.

If the contributor had mentioned a country such as Afghanistan or Mali in a similar content, the cutting would have been the first on the editing floor.

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Question Time Live Interactive Blog - All Welcome

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It's All About Balance

This week there has been quite a stooshie about tonight's Question Time which is due to be broadcast from Inverness.

The SNP MSP Kenny Gibson made a formal complaint about the imbalance of the panel, with two supporters of independence and three guests from the No campaign.  Originally Johann Lamont and Michael Forsyth were to be joined by Melanie Phillips, the Daily Mail columnist.

The BBC's reason for including Ms Phillips was because the programme discussed UK issues.

This is the first Question Time since the launch of the Yes campaign and the announcement that Alistair Darling will head the No campaign. Flying a London-based journalist to Inverness to represent the UK is lamentable although predictable.

Couldn't they have engaged the services of that prominent journalist frae Dundee if they were desperate to provide a UK view?  I believe Mr Cochrane resides in or around London.

But Kenny Gibson's complaint has not gone unnoticed by those of influence at the BBC.  Ms Phillips is to be replaced by Charles Kennedy who will join Nicola Sturgeon, Alan Cumming, Michael Forsyth and Johann Lamont.  This will be Ms Lamont's first appearance on QT and it will be interesting to see how she performs.

The panel balance is now reasonably fair but it would have been even fairer if someone from the 'undecided' camp had been included.  Lesley Riddoch is one who would fit the bill but there are plenty others who may welcome the opportunity to challenge both sides.

The show starts at 10.35pm on BBC 1.

Update:  Nicola Sturgeon has withdrawn and will be replaced by Alex Neil and Melanie Phillips will appear. Thanks to Grogipher for keeping an eye on Twitter.

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Interactive Blog - BBC Question Time from Glasgow

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Question Time

The BBC's Question Time comes from Glasgow this evening when David Dimbleby will joined by Jacob Rees-Mogg, Alistair Carmichael, Margaret Curran, Mike Russell, Cristina Odone and Brian Cox.

Four Scots, three of whom work outside Scotland and two London based guests. Quite a cast and it just could be interesting.

I hope to try a live blog - as I did on the night of the Holyrood elections - from 10.30pm because I find Twitter confusing when trying to follow different hashtags. Also being confined to 140 characters sometimes isn't enough!

Should anyone care to join in you're more than welcome. Come along anytime between 10.30pm and 11.30pm.

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BBC Question Time - Dunfermline

David Dimbleby, Ian Gray, Nadine Dorries

Nicola Sturgeon, David Steel, Bruce Anderson

Purely by chance I happened to watch Question Time tonight and it held my attention for the whole 50 minutes.  Would that be Ian Gray's first appearance on such a programme?  Somehow I think it was.  He really has to stop reading from a script although I admit he improved as the programme continued.  Constantly looking down to read is off-putting to viewers who may well be entitled to think he didn't have a good grip of the subject.

Why was Nadine Dorries shipped up from England and with little or no preparation?  She didn't even know Rosyth existed and admitted that. Not good from the Tories.  What's wrong with an MSP being on the panel; I suggest Derek Brownlie.  Do hope someone in the Scottish tory party reads this because I'm more than sure my tory friends will say the same.

In the past I've criticised David Dimbleby for side-stepping Nicola Sturgeon, but he certainly didn't do so tonight.  She is such a steady performer and never disappoints.  Even the most anti-SNP viewer must agree.

David Steel loosened up and by the end almost looked relaxed.  Last time I saw him was a couple of years ago at Stobo Castle, but he had reserved the posh suite and didn't emerge to mix with the hoi polloi.

Tonight was the first time I've seen Bruce Anderson although I've read his work and heard him on radio.  I like his direct responses and his common sense - that doesn't mean to say I agree with him!

Three questions stood out for me:  Gordon Brown, Faslane and DNA record keeping.  A good balance between the audience and panel was achieved and the panel's contribution was fairly good.  Ian Gray should have quit when he was ahead with regard to his contribution on the DNA question as he sounded as if he was repeating a directive but couldn't explain is reasons. 

The stars were Bruce Anderson and Nicola Sturgeon but credit has to be given to Ian Gray for attending and also doing not too badly for a first time panelist. It's a shame he's not a natural speaker and needs so many notes. I reiterate, the Scottish tories do need to get their act together and use a Scottish MSP for these events because they do the Scottish party no favours using Westminster MPs.

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