SNP MSPs raised issues including accuracy in reporting and declining trust in the BBC at a private meeting with the corporation’s director-general on Tuesday.
Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, was in Edinburgh to meet with SNP politicians after his private meeting with Tory MPs at Westminster was raised with corporation executives.
In October 2023, Davie spoke at the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, which was then raised with BBC chief financial officer Alan Dickson and BBC Scotland director Steve Carson when they faced questions from MSPs on Holyrood’s culture committee in January.
Keith Brown, the depute leader of the SNP, asked the pair: “I wondered, given that we've seen in recent times the director-general of the BBC attending a meeting of Conservative MPs at Westminster, if we can expect a similar kind of courtesy from the director-general in this parliament?
“In terms of direct communication with the director-general to raise some concerns, is that possible?”
Dickson said that previous director-generals had appeared before Holyrood committees, leading Brown to highlight how Davie had attended a meeting for “a particular political party,” not a parliamentary committee.
“Is that a courtesy extended to all parties?” the SNP MSP asked.
The meeting was eventually arranged, and Davie met with SNP politicians on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement issued after the meeting, SNP Holyrood group convener Stuart McMillan MSP said: "The SNP is a firm supporter of public broadcasting and today's meeting was an important opportunity for MSPs to engage directly with the director-general.
"This was a wide-ranging discussion which explored the recent cuts to Scotland-based programming, the importance of accuracy in reporting – particularly in news and current affairs – and declining public trust in the corporation and media more widely.”
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The meeting came just one day after the BBC issued a correction and apology for its coverage of the Hate Crime Act.
McMillan went on: "SNP MSPs will continue to make the case for greater investment in the BBC's commissioning budget being spent in Scotland, as well as holding the UK Government to account for its sweeping cuts to the corporation's funding in recent years.
"I thank the director-general for his time today and look forward to assessing progress on the issues raised as we continue to hold the BBC to the highest standards to protect the future of public broadcasting in Scotland."
The BBC have been approached for comment.
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