BBC to 'look at' SNP debate ideas

Mr Salmond believes the debates will disenfranchise Scottish viewers

The BBC has said it would consider SNP proposals aimed at resolving a row over forthcoming general election television debates, after talks with Alex Salmond.

The corporation's chief political adviser Ric Bailey said a meeting with the first minister was constructive.

The three main UK party leaders are due to take part in debates on the BBC, Sky and ITV in the run-up to the election.

The SNP complained about being excluded and called for another debate involving UK leaders, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

The SNP said during the two-hour meeting it had proposed a separate debate on constitutional issues and other issues of concern to Scotland and Wales.

Afterwards, Mr Salmond said: "We await the BBC's response to this idea before determining our next steps."

He added: "It remains deeply unsatisfactory that neither the BBC nor ITV are prepared to reopen the 90 minutes of debate or their closed shop deal with the three London parties.

"As a result it is clear that not just the interests of the SNP and Plaid Cymru, the parties of government in both Scotland and Wales, but the interests of the Scottish people risk being sidelined at key points in this election campaign."

Accused of bias

The SNP leader has claimed the exclusion of his party and Plaid Cymru called into question "the impartiality of the BBC in advance of the general election".

Both he and the Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones accused the BBC of bias in a joint letter to BBC director general Mark Thompson on Thursday.

But, following the discussions, Mr Bailey insisted there would be plenty of opportunities for the SNP to be heard during the election campaign.

"They came up with a number of questions and a number of suggestions that I'm going to take away and talk to colleagues on the BBC about," he said.

"We talked to them about the UK debate but also the debate among the leaders in Scotland, and about all the things that we're going to be doing during the campaign to ensure due impartiality."

The SNP also held talks with ITV on Friday afternoon to discuss the issue.

'No part'

The row has been criticised by other parties.

Labour MP David Cairns said: "I think this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, even by Alex Salmond's standards.

"To say that if he doesn't get his face on the telly that the election is illegitimate and that the people of Scotland have been disenfranchised is, quiet frankly, bonkers."

Conservative David Mundell MP said: "What Alex Salmond seems incapable of admitting is that he isn't even standing as a candidate in this British general election.

"There is absolutely no prospect of him being Prime Minister, therefore, he has no part to play in these prime ministerial debates."