Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil is writing to Ken MacQuarrie the controller of BBC Scotland and John Boothman, Head of News and Current Affairs to protest at the planned dismemberment of the BBC Highland Service, which was decimated in 1993.

Mr MacNeil said:

“I am flabbergasted that an area the size of Wales is to lose half to three quarters of its BBC Reporting staff, in fact I wonder if there will be anywhere else in the world as poorly covered by the BBC English Language service as the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

“The BBC is savagely cutting its already paltry service in the Highlands and Islands, under the guise of “delivery quality first”.  It really has to be asked what if anything they will be delivery now through their English Language service.  The centralisation of a BBC that is already famous for its South East of England news bias with anything South of Dover or North of Watford struggling to be reported is now seemingly being replicated by centralisation in Glasgow.

“Scotland needs quality journalists throughout the country we do not want to suffer more stodgy news with greater and grimmer coverage from a variety of sheriff court buildings within driving distance of BBC Headquarters in Glasgow.

“BBC Highland has on very limited resources, been delivering a quality news service that has been greatly valued by its audience and is should remain unless the BBC are renouncing their claim on all of Scotland.

“My complaint about the BBC over many years is that we have not had a Scottish Six giving us international news from a Scottish perspective and now we are in danger of not getting Scotland news from a Scottish perspective.  Licence fee payers in the Highlands and Islands deserve better.”

 

ENDS.