Question Time
A row broke out last week about the compostion of the panel for the BBC's Question Time programme - which is chaired by Richard Dimbleby.
I watched the programme, as it happens, and found it both predictable and boring - in my view the only person who has anything remotely interesting to say was Lesley Riddoch, the journalist - with everyone else being a party 'hack' of one kind or another.
But the Scottish Greens and Lib Dems have complained about being left out of this great debate - in preference to political nonentities like Nigel Farage of UKIP - and George Galloway of Respect - on the basis that neither of these two parties have any real presence in Scotland.
Now I think that charge carries some weight - although Nigel Farage could argue that UKIP are standing in the forthcoming Aberdeen Donside by-election - while George could argue just about anything because he loves the sound of his own voice.
So the row is now due to rumble on to the Scottish Parliament where an SNP MSP - Kenny Gibson - has tabled a motion objecting to the presence of UKIP and Respect on the Question Time panel - which will at least ensure a wider public debate over 'who decides what and why' at the BBC.
No doubt George will complain that the is being silenced - which is silly - because you couldn't shut George up even if you covered him with 'gaffer tape' and threw him into the boot of your car.
The pointis not about silencing or censoring anyone - it's about ensuring some kind kind of fair and balanced representation and my criticism of the panel is that there were too many party hacks - and not a single young person.
Which is odd given that the audience was made up of 16 and 17-year-olds - who will have a vote in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence.
So, I say - 'Gie's peace Nige and George' - you both get loads of time to bore people to death with your views and I'd like to hear from someone with an authentic voice - a person something different and interesting to say.
PS I'm told the people who appear on the BBC programmes get paid a handsome fee - I must ask an FOI question and find out whether this is true.
