Scottish National Party ministers are facing severe allegations of "breathtaking hypocrisy" after launching a fierce attack on the BBC for a misleading caption, while simultaneously rallying in defence of Justice Secretary Angela Constance ahead of a crucial vote of no confidence.
Culture Secretary's BBC Complaint
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson demanded both an apology and a correction from the BBC yesterday. His complaint centred on a caption broadcast during the Question Time programme the previous week, which stated that one in three children in Glasgow "don't speak fluent English."
Mr Robertson first raised the issue in a pro-independence newspaper before formally writing to BBC Director-General Tim Davie. He insisted the caption was "factually incorrect and misleading" and required immediate action.
In response, the BBC published a clarification on its corrections page. The broadcaster acknowledged the error, stating: "This caption was an incorrect summary of the original question (by an audience member). Official figures show in Glasgow around 3 per cent of pupils for whom English is an additional language are also fluent in English. We acknowledge we should have used the original wording of the question in the caption."
Contrasting Defence of Justice Secretary
This vigorous pursuit of accuracy from the BBC stands in stark contrast to the SNP's defence of Justice Secretary Angela Constance. Ms Constance is under intense scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting the views of child abuse expert Professor Alexis Jay regarding a Scottish grooming gangs inquiry, with opposition parties claiming she misled parliament.
Despite these serious claims, SNP ministers have continued to support Ms Constance. A motion of no confidence in the Justice Secretary is scheduled for a vote at Holyrood this afternoon. MSPs from the Scottish Conservatives, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats are all expected to support the motion.
Opposition Fury and Unlikely Outcome
Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton led the criticism, lambasting the SNP's position. She said: "Angus Robertson’s hypocrisy and double standards is breathtaking. He’s demanding an apology and correction from the BBC, while he and his SNP colleagues are arguing that Angela Constance has no case to answer."
Ms Hamilton added pointedly: "The Culture Secretary has zero credibility complaining about the integrity of others when he continues to defend a Justice Secretary whose position is untenable."
However, the no-confidence motion is not anticipated to secure a majority. The Scottish Greens have indicated they do not plan to support it, likely ensuring Ms Constance survives the parliamentary challenge.
The episode has ignited a fierce political row, highlighting accusations of selective outrage and placing the SNP government's consistency under a harsh spotlight.
