Rachael Hamilton MSP has commented on recent attacks on the media by the SNP’s three leadership candidates.
She described the attacks as ‘bizarre’, following comments made during the recent leadership hustings in Dumfries.
The Borders politician spoke of her particular disappointment in one of the candidates’ outbursts regarding the future of ITV Borders.
During the hustings in Dumfries, the leadership candidate claimed that there was a link between voting patterns in the south of Scotland and the fact that viewers there see ITV rather than STV.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“Local and regional TV channels are incredibly important sources of information and entertainment for audiences all over Scotland. ITV Borders does a fantastic job of keeping Borderers up to date with the news that is most relevant to them in an impartial manner.
“The SNP’s three leadership candidates have all launched bizarre attacks on our media, but some comments around replacing ITV Borders with STV shows a complete lack of understanding of our communities.
“During my time as an MSP, ITV Borders have always approached me with the utmost professionalism and impartiality.
“There is absolutely no evidence to suggest the voting intention of Borderers has anything to do with the television channel they choose to watch. To suggest that this has any bearing ignores the fact that people in this region have rejected the SNP at the polls because of their appalling record in Government.
“I am deeply disappointed by this attack on our local broadcaster, and fully agree with my colleague Craig Hoy, who has written to the leadership candidates to call them out on their mistreatment of Scotland’s media.”
