Scotland's Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson, has been accused of 'thin-skinned grievance mongering' following his latest broadside against the BBC. The senior SNP figure launched a fresh complaint about the broadcaster's editorial language, sparking a sharp political backlash.
A Complaint Over Constitutional Wording
Addressing Holyrood's constitution committee, Mr Robertson took issue with the BBC's frequent reference to 'the Government' when reporting on UK-wide matters. He argued this phrasing fails to acknowledge the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, presenting Westminster as the sole governing authority.
'We're living in an asymmetrical Union where our main public service broadcaster still thinks it is accurate every single day to report that "the Government" is doing something,' Robertson stated. He claimed this 'would never happen' in other European nations with federal or devolved systems, such as Germany, Austria, or Belgium.
The minister framed the issue as one of 'attitude', suggesting the BBC's approach had not sufficiently evolved to reflect 25 years of devolution. This parliamentary intervention marked his second high-profile grievance against the corporation within a single week.
Second BBC Row Over 'Factual Inaccuracy'
Earlier in the week, on Monday, Mr Robertson had written to the BBC's director-general, Tim Davie, demanding an urgent correction. The complaint concerned a 'factual inaccuracy' during the previous week's Question Time programme broadcast from Paisley.
An on-screen caption had suggested one in three Glasgow children 'don't speak fluent English'. Mr Robertson insisted the accurate figure was that around 29 per cent of children have English as an 'additional language'. He characterised the error as significant and sought an apology from the director-general.
Political Backlash and Broader Criticism
Tory committee member Stephen Kerr led the counter-attack, dismissing Robertson's complaints as a distraction. 'Angus Robertson’s latest outburst against the BBC is classic thin-skinned grievance mongering,' Kerr said. 'He has a long record of picking pointless fights with the BBC over imagined slights, while serious failures on his own watch go unanswered.'
Kerr argued that the Question Time issue was a 'minor production slip' that was clarified quickly, making the demand for a director-general's apology 'wildly disproportionate'.
The criticism extended beyond the BBC rows. On Tuesday, Mr Robertson faced accusations of neglecting his ministerial responsibilities following a scathing report from the Auditor General on problems at Historic Environment Scotland. The report, covering a period under Robertson's oversight, cited 'unacceptable weaknesses' in governance and allegations of a 'toxic workplace culture' at the heritage body.
It also criticised the government for ignoring its own rules, leaving the £70 million-a-year quango without a chief executive for almost six months. Mr Robertson defended the government's actions, stating it had 'continually monitored the situation' during the chief executive's sick leave.
The twin controversies have placed the Culture Secretary under intense scrutiny, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the Scottish Government and the national broadcaster while raising questions about his portfolio management.
